There are two major forms of dementia, vascular and plaque each with totally different causes and pathology. Quite a poor article that does not distinguish between the two. My mother in law died from both Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, didn't drink or smoke, very active and ate well. Just goes to show that the usual advice doesn't root cause the facts.
https://worldabcnews.com/category/lifestyle/
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@Charles The article states, "“ There is no guarantee. Some people who did all the right things still developed dementia." the main point is if you lead a healthy life you will HOPEFULLY improve your chances.
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Perhaps it is not causal, but it's just common sense to follow a healthy lifestyle. It may not mitigate bad genes, but then again it may make all the difference.
My father lived to be 97.5 years old. Around age 93, he developed mild to moderate vascular dementia. He was never overly active though he worked on his feet a lot. He retired at age 62, but he did continue to maintain his home and lawn until age 95. I can only hope to be as fortunate.
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What interested me most in the Times this week was the article "Healthy Lifestyle May Reduce Dementia Risk", written by Nicholas Bakalar, July 16, 2019.
Through the long grapevine of my relatives, by marriage, not blood, there is a history of dementia. Not only am I interested in such medical conditions, but I am interested and become increasingly interested in prevention of many medical conditions, as well, to improve overall health and lifespan. Having a person in close relation to my family with dementia has made me aware of what dementia is and ways it can be prevented.
In relation to this article, Bakalar writes, "Healthful eating and exercise might lower dementia risk ", over the recent summer, I have been exercising more and more and choosing to eat more healthily. A few months into my healthier lifestyle, I was pleased and very intrigued to come across this type of article about how choosing a healthier lifestyle can be of great benefits, in more ways than one.
This article is one type of many in which I become positively influenced by. I took initiative this summer to see what a few months of summer vacation, eating healthier and exercising more, would do to my body, especially in such a short period of time. Not only are there noticeable changes with my weight and muscle mass, but there are proven invisible changes such as the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 87. She was educated, worked until she was 71, did volunteer work, played golf, socialized, quit smoking at the age of 56, etc. Maybe that lifestyle helped stave it off until 87. I even wrote a book about our trials and travails taking care of her: "My Mother Has Alzheimer's and My Dog Has Tapeworms: A Caregiver's Tale" In it, I wrote that even if those activities don't prevent, or even forestall Alzheimer's, I enjoy exercising, socializing, working, etc., for the here and now.
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The study provides a disclaimer to the causative effects, but since we don't know what causes this mental deterioration - look at amyloid research - only the correlations, it still seems prudent to use the findings as lifestyle prescriptions. Although better studies need to be designed and published, prudence would dictate following a healthy lifestyle, regardless of the lack of its proof, at least in this case.
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This is a finding that can be misinterpreted to suggest that a healthy lifestyle confers immunity to the deteriorations that result in dementia. There are no guarantees.
Whether the resilience of some hinges on "cognitive reserves" - as referenced by James Igoe earlier or engaging in healthy lifestyles plus avoidance of damaging substances, plus a little genetic blessing -- healthier lifestyles are better.
In the pioneering "Nun Study," some participants had the signs of Alzheimer Disease upon autopsy, without any apparent dementia -- and the suggestion is that essentially, their brains had, compare to those who developed signs dementia, extra capacity related to years of involvement, and learning --but on top of innate qualities.
What is still being explored is whether the question of health also extends to infections and inflammation that had direct effects on the brain.
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Another recent article, Lifespan Cognitive Reserve Indicator With Dementia Risk in the Presence of Brain Pathologies examined social and intellectual functions across one's life, adjusted for numerous lifestyle factors.
In conclusion, it found:
High lifespan CR is associated with a reduction in dementia risk, even in the presence of high brain pathologies. Our findings highlight the importance of lifespan CR accumulation in dementia prevention.
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@James Igoe what exactly is cognitive reserve?
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@Susan - Although one could simply Google this, in this context it s the development of the ability to withstand the degradation of aging, i.e., brain pathologies. Although not proven to be causal, and could simply be correlated, learning new languages, playing crosswords and sudoku, social engagement, physical fitness, etc., are often cited, but in fact my also impact brain reserve, not just cognitive abilities. Part of the problem is that many of these activities are engaged in by people that are smarter and more educated to begin with so it becomes a problem to disentangle cause and effect.
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It would have been useful to mention, for those that wouldn't research this further, the lifestyle factors found:
- Not currently smoking
- Regular physical activity (e.g., 150 min/week)
- Healthy diet
- Low-to-moderate alcohol intake (0-2, depending on gender)
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Apologies to the author, I did not see the mention of lifestyle factors...
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I read this article along with several abstracts the other day, one from Journal Watch and one from Eurekalert, and not only does it reduce dementia risk in those at high risk, it also lowers it for low-risk genetics as well.
Quote: A favorable lifestyle was associated with lower dementia risk regardless of genetic risk, indicating that genetic risk and healthy lifestyle are independently associated with risk of dementia.
Even the JAMA articles states, that a "healthy lifestyle was associated with lower risk of dementia among participants with low or high genetic risk."
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