Scientists, medical personnel and many others are trying to understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease, how to treat it, and trying to find ways to prevent it.
Looking For Ways To Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
The National Institute on Aging has funded one notable long-term studies on Alzheimer’s disease that has been in progress since 1986. Giving rise to the project’s nickname of ‘The Nun Study”, the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato, MN, are the subjects of the research. 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 goal of this study. To achieve this, each of the 678 participants agreed to participate in annual assessments of their cognitive and physical function, plus 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.
The fact that the nuns are all 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 most contend with subjects from various backgrounds and diverse environments, medical history and lifestyle. It's easier to figure out the results when all these variable are gone, as they are with the group of nuns.
Discoveries From The Study
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. So, what does the research indicate YOU can do to prevent getting Alzheimer’s symptoms?
Coping With Alzheimer's Disease
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.”
How To Build Your Cognitive Reserve (CR)
Cognitive Reserve is the ability to tolerate progressive brain pathology without demonstrating clinical cognitive symptoms. 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.
Researchers say the way to prevent Alzheimer’s is build your reserve of neurons, synapses, and skills -- your Cognitive Reserve. But how can we do that? After all, what exactly is challenging mental activity or a good "brain exercise"?
To build CR effectivey, 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 one example of a good way to build your CR. Changing your environment by moving or traveling is another. Taking classes, an occupation that engages your mind, or even increased physical activity can result in increased neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons), thereby increasing your Cognitive Reserve.
Your Cognitive Reserve can, in fact, be built by almost any challenging activity. Some activities might have interpersonal demands. Some might make physical demands. Others may have challenging levels of cognitive complexity (thinking and learning). Keep challenging your brain:Build Your Cognitive Reserve with Brain Games.
Use Your Brain To Keep It Active.
According to the research, it all points to the more you use your brain, the better it continues to function. Your brain can show full-blown physical symptoms of the disease, but by building up your Cognitive Reserve by learning and other challenging experiences, you increase your chances of never showing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Keep yourself challenged and prevent Alzheimer's disease!
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