Alzheimer's Study
Alzheimer’s disease is the subject of many studies. What causes it? How can we treat it? Better yet, how can we prevent it? Many scientists, medical personnel and others are trying to find the answers to those questions.
Learning About The Disease
In progress since 1986, one of the most notable long-term studies on Alzheimer’s disease is funded by the National Institute on Aging. The subjects of the study are the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato, MN, giving rise to the project’s nickname of ‘The Nun Study”. This research is a collaborative effort between the nuns there and the University of Kentucky, under the directorship of Dr. David Snowdon. Also participating are scientists from many other universities.
Determining the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and figuring out ways to prevent it is the focus of this study. Each of the 678 participants agreed to participate in annual assessments of their cognitive and physical function to help achieve this. They also must have medical exams and blood drawn for genetic and nutritional studies. Upon their death, all the participants in the Nun Study have also agreed to donate their brains for neuropathological studies.
Because the nuns in this group are non-smokers, drink little if any alcohol, have the same marital status and reproductive history, have lived in similar housing, held similar jobs, and had similar access to preventive and medical care, it makes them easier to study. Most studies have the problem of subjects from various backgrounds and diverse environments, medical history and lifestyle. It’s easier to find the differences when there are fewer variables in the subjects, as there is with this group of nuns.
Study Results
It’s already been discovered through this research that traits in early, mid, and late life have strong relationships with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the mental and cognitive disabilities of old age. Bottom line, what does the research indicate YOU can do to prevent getting Alzheimer’s symptoms?
Mental Stimulation To Prevent Alzheimer’s Symptoms
A leading researcher on Alzheimer’s, Dr. Yaakov Stern, says, “Individuals who lead mentally stimulating lives, through education, occupation and leisure activities, have reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Studies suggest that they have 35-40% less risk of manifesting the disease. The pathology will still occur, but they are able to cope with it better. Some won’t ever be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s because they don’t present any symptoms.”
Ways to Build Your Cognitive Reserve (CR)
Tolerating progressive brain pathology without demonstrating clinical cognitive symptoms is called Cognitive Reserve. Another way of putting it is to say that Cognitive Reserve is how your brain resists any physical changes caused by Alzheimer’s disease so you don’t have any of the usual symptoms like memory loss.
Building your Cognitive Reserve, your reserve of neurons, synapses and skills, is the best way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease according to researchers. So how can we do that? After all, what exactly is challenging mental activity or a good “brain exercise”?
To work well for building CR, an activity must:
- Engage your attention.
- Involve more than one of your senses.
- Break a routine activity in an unexpected way.
Learning a new language is just one of many examples of a great way to build your CR. Traveling to change your environment is another. Taking challenging classes, a job that makes you use your mind, even increased physical activity can all lead to increased neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons), thereby increasing your Cognitive Reserve.
Building your CR can, in fact, be done with almost any challenging activity. Some activities might make physical demands. Some may have interpersonal demands. Others may have challenging levels of cognitive complexity (thinking and learning). Keep challenging your brain:Build Your Cognitive Reserve with Brain Games.
Look For Challenges To Keep Your Brain Sharp.
The more you use your brain, according to the research, the better it continues to work. Learning and other challenging experiences builds your Cognitive Reserve and increases your chances of never showing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, even if your brain has signs of the disease.
Take up the challenge and prevent Alzheimer’s disease!