Submitted by The Village at Mercy Creek and Ancora Memory Care
As they get older, many people worry about developing Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. As many as 5.5 million Americans age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s. Many more are expected to develop the disease as the population ages—unless ways to prevent or delay it are found.
Although scientists have conducted many studies, and more are ongoing, so far, nothing has been proven to prevent or delay dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. But researchers have identified promising strategies and are learning more about what might—and might not—work.
We know that changes in the brain can occur many years before the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear. These early brain changes point to a possible window of opportunity to prevent or delay debilitating memory loss and other symptoms of dementia. Researchers are studying many approaches to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s. Let’s look at the most promising interventions to date and what we know about them.
Evaluating the Latest Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Research
A recent review of research looked carefully at the evidence on ways to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s dementia or age-related cognitive decline. The review found “encouraging but inconclusive” evidence for three types of interventions:
- Increased physical activity
- Blood pressure control for people with high blood pressure (also called hypertension)
- Cognitive training
The evidence for other interventions, such as medications and diet, was not as strong.
Can Increasing Physical Activity Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
Physical activity has many health benefits, such as reducing falls, maintaining mobility and independence, and reducing the risk of chronic conditions like depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Years of animal and human observational studies suggest the possible benefits of exercise for the brain. Some studies have shown that people who exercise have a lower risk of cognitive decline than those who don’t. Exercise has also been associated with fewer Alzheimer’s plaques and tangles in the brain and better performance on certain cognitive tests.
While clinical trials suggest that exercise may help delay or slow age-related cognitive decline, there is not enough evidence to conclude that it can prevent or slow mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s dementia. Many questions remain to be answered: Can exercise or physical activity prevent age-related cognitive decline, MCI, or Alzheimer’s dementia? If so, what types of physical activity are most beneficial? How much and how often should a person exercise? How does exercise affect the brains of people with no or mild symptoms? Until scientists know more, experts encourage exercise for its many other benefits, but there’s not enough evidence to recommend exercise as a way to prevent Alzheimer’s dementia.
Can Controlling High Blood Pressure Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
Controlling high blood pressure is known to reduce a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke. The NASEM committee of experts concluded that managing blood pressure when it’s high, particularly for middle-aged adults, also might help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s dementia.
Many types of studies show a connection between high blood pressure, cerebrovascular disease (a disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain), and dementia. For example, it’s common for people with Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain to also have signs of vascular damage in the brain, autopsy studies show. Clinical trials—the gold standard of medical proof—are underway to determine whether managing high blood pressure in individuals with hypertension can prevent Alzheimer’s dementia or cognitive decline.
Can Cognitive Training Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
Cognitive training involves structured activities designed to enhance memory, reasoning, and speed of processing. There is encouraging but inconclusive evidence that a specific, computer-based cognitive training may help delay or slow age-related cognitive decline. However, there is no evidence that it can prevent or delay Alzheimer’s-related cognitive impairment.
Studies show that cognitive training can improve the type of cognition a person is trained in. For example, older adults who received 10 hours of practice designed to enhance their speed and accuracy in responding to pictures presented briefly on a computer screen (“speed of processing” training) got faster and better at this specific task and other tasks in which enhanced speed of processing is important. Similarly, older adults who received several hours of instruction on effective memory strategies showed improved memory when using those strategies. The important question is whether such training has long-term benefits or translates into improved performance on daily activities like driving and remembering to take medicine.
Findings from long-term observational studies—in which researchers observed behavior but did not influence or change it—also suggest that informal cognitively stimulating activities, such as reading or playing games, may lower risk of Alzheimer’s-related cognitive impairment and dementia.
Scientists think that some of these activities may protect the brain by establishing “reserve,” the brain’s ability to operate effectively even when it is damaged or some brain function is disrupted. Another theory is that such activities may help the brain become more adaptable in some mental functions so it can compensate for declines in others.
Alzheimer’s Disease is complex and there is currently no definitive evidence about what can prevent it. However, researchers are exploring many types of interventions that may help prevent, delay, or slow Alzheimer’s dementia or age-related cognitive decline. What we do know is that a healthy lifestyle—one that includes a healthy diet, physical activity, appropriate weight, and no smoking—can lower the risk of certain chronic diseases and boost overall health and well-being.
At the Village at Mercy Creek, they believe joy should exist in every aspect of daily life. They offer Assisted Living along with Ancora Memory Care, which is located in a different wing of their building. To tour or learn more about the Village at Mercy Creek and Ancora Memory Care, located at 1501 Mercy Creek Drive in Normal, call Bailey Kemp at 309-268-1501 or visit www.villageatmercycreek.org.