Recent longitudinal studies have contributed much to Alzheimer's disease research.
They have also given strong indications of workable courses of action for Alzheimer's prevention.
A longitudinal study is one that follows a certain group of people for several years, noting differences in their activities, lifestyles etc.
These differences are then correlated against cognitive impairment tests and, ultimately against brain autopsies which remain the one certain way to determine the effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
So what have they found? What more do we know about Alzheimer's prevention from them? Here is a brief summary.
1.
In a study of Nuns, Monks and Priests, ongoing now for more than two decades, researchers are finding that those who are more conscientious about their religious duties have a lower incidence of Alzheimer's.
They are concluding that being diligent, active and conscientious about what one is doing, seems to help prevent AD.
Those who are intellectually active, learn new things, push themselves to develop new abilities, are less likely to develop AD than others who are less active mentally.
(Hence the title of this article!) The message is clear: Use you mind, push yourself to learn to play a musical instrument, speak another language.
Challenge yourself to use your mind in new and non-routine ways, and that increased mental activity will help in Alzheimer's prevention.
In the Nuns' study, researchers noted that many mentally active nuns who did not develop AD symptoms, nevertheless had AD's telltale plaques and tangles in their brains.
They theorize that the new activities encouraged the Nuns to develop parts of their brains not used before and find new neural paths to by-pass the diseased, non-functioning parts.
For whatever reason, the correlation between challenging mental activity and low AD incidence is strong.
2.
A healthy heart and circulatory system help the brain stay free of AD.
In one study people who had had strokes were found to be 60% more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who had not had strokes.
There is a high correlation between taking the steps to avoid strokes and avoiding AD.
3.
Also, there is a high correlation between most types of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Generally speaking, what's good for you heart is apparently also good for your brain: low-fat, low cholesterol, good blood pressure control, physical activity and controlling your weight.
4.
Interestingly enough, in the Nuns' studies, those who generally had a positive, cheerful attitude were found to be less likely to contract AD than their "the glass is half-empty" counterparts.
It is truly said that people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be...
And that is completely under your control! While there is still no cure for AD, evidence that it can be prevented by making wise lifestyle choices continues to mount.
Perhaps AD will prove to be like smallpox; the cure is in the prevention! And good lifestyle and nutrition choices will be for AD the equivalent of the cowpox vaccination used to prevent smallpox.
For more information on Alzheimer's prevention and advances in Alzheimer's disease research, follow the links below.
They have also given strong indications of workable courses of action for Alzheimer's prevention.
A longitudinal study is one that follows a certain group of people for several years, noting differences in their activities, lifestyles etc.
These differences are then correlated against cognitive impairment tests and, ultimately against brain autopsies which remain the one certain way to determine the effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
So what have they found? What more do we know about Alzheimer's prevention from them? Here is a brief summary.
1.
In a study of Nuns, Monks and Priests, ongoing now for more than two decades, researchers are finding that those who are more conscientious about their religious duties have a lower incidence of Alzheimer's.
They are concluding that being diligent, active and conscientious about what one is doing, seems to help prevent AD.
Those who are intellectually active, learn new things, push themselves to develop new abilities, are less likely to develop AD than others who are less active mentally.
(Hence the title of this article!) The message is clear: Use you mind, push yourself to learn to play a musical instrument, speak another language.
Challenge yourself to use your mind in new and non-routine ways, and that increased mental activity will help in Alzheimer's prevention.
In the Nuns' study, researchers noted that many mentally active nuns who did not develop AD symptoms, nevertheless had AD's telltale plaques and tangles in their brains.
They theorize that the new activities encouraged the Nuns to develop parts of their brains not used before and find new neural paths to by-pass the diseased, non-functioning parts.
For whatever reason, the correlation between challenging mental activity and low AD incidence is strong.
2.
A healthy heart and circulatory system help the brain stay free of AD.
In one study people who had had strokes were found to be 60% more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who had not had strokes.
There is a high correlation between taking the steps to avoid strokes and avoiding AD.
3.
Also, there is a high correlation between most types of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Generally speaking, what's good for you heart is apparently also good for your brain: low-fat, low cholesterol, good blood pressure control, physical activity and controlling your weight.
4.
Interestingly enough, in the Nuns' studies, those who generally had a positive, cheerful attitude were found to be less likely to contract AD than their "the glass is half-empty" counterparts.
It is truly said that people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be...
And that is completely under your control! While there is still no cure for AD, evidence that it can be prevented by making wise lifestyle choices continues to mount.
Perhaps AD will prove to be like smallpox; the cure is in the prevention! And good lifestyle and nutrition choices will be for AD the equivalent of the cowpox vaccination used to prevent smallpox.
For more information on Alzheimer's prevention and advances in Alzheimer's disease research, follow the links below.
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