Doing these 3 things can delay Alzheimer’s disease by 5 years, experts say

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As the classic idiom says, prevention is better than cure, and this is exactly what much of recent dementia research has focused on.

We know that a significant part of Alzheimer’s risk lies in our DNA, but many determinants of dementia are triggered by lifestyle habits. There is no proven, foolproof way to prevent or cure dementia, but scientists are finding that people who tend to follow certain habits tend to have less brain decline as they age.

Related: These 13 Things Could Make You More Likely To Have Alzheimer’s Disease, New Study Finds

In addition to a mountain of research that suggests that an overall healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline, we’ve learned that walking three times a week, not smoking, playing music, and following a lifestyle. Generally smart living for the heart can dramatically move the needle and decrease the chances of being diagnosed with dementia.

Up to one in five people aged 65 and over will suffer from some type of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can impact memory, decision making and / or reasoning skills. In many cases, MCI progresses to dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

The latest lifestyle-related research on this topic may just be one of the funniest yet: According to a brand new study published July 14 in the journal Neurology, a “cognitively active lifestyle” that includes writing letters, reading and playing games in old age can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by 5 years.

Previous studies have shown that reading can reduce the risk of cognitive decline, which has led scientists to hypothesize that brain-stimulating activities may slow the onset of dementia by increasing “cognitive reserve”, or our ability to think, which varies among individuals and throughout life. lifetime.

You could say that cognitive activity throughout life delays symptoms but does not stop the underlying disease. In other words, activity gives you a ‘reserve’ that makes you ‘resilient’. the presence of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain, allowing you to function better for longer, ”adds James Rowe, professor of cognitive neurology at the University of Cambridge, UK, in the Medical News Today research history. (Rowe was not involved in the study, by the way, he just sounded with a global expert background.)

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To find out, the scientists looked at data from 1,903 people with an average age of around 80 who were enrolled in the Rush Memory and Aging Project. None of these people had been diagnosed with dementia at the start of the study.

At the start, each participant answered seven questions to assess their level of cognitive activity. The queries were about how much time they spent reading each day, how often they wrote letters, and how often they played games (such as cards, puzzles, or board games). Seniors also shared details about their cognitive activities early in life, current levels of loneliness, and tendency to be sociable (for example, visiting family or friends).

Each person also underwent annual clinical assessments, which covered medical history, a neurological exam, and a series of 19 cognitive tests. They also agreed to an autopsy of the brain after death.

By the end of the 7-year study, 695 participants had died and 457 had developed Alzheimer’s disease (the latter group included both living and deceased individuals). Those who were most cognitively active as seniors developed Alzheimer’s disease, on average, by the age of 93.6 years. Those who reported the least cognitive problems in old age developed Alzheimer’s disease around an average age of 88.6 years.

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It should be noted that this could be a chicken and egg scenario, the scientists write: “It is possible that a low level of cognitive activity is an early sign of an underlying disease. rather than a real risk factor ”.

Still, researchers believe a more likely explanation is that cognitive stimulation habits actually alter the way the brain is structured and how it functions to improve this aforementioned cognitive reserve.

“I was convinced that higher cognitive activity would be associated with an older age of onset of dementia, but I was unsure of the magnitude of the association,” said Dr Robert Wilson , main author of the article. Medical News Today. “The study suggests that a cognitively active lifestyle may prevent the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders lasting for several years and thus significantly reduce the length of life spent in a state of cognitive impairment. . We asked about cognitively stimulating daily activities, such as reading a newspaper or book or visiting a library; it was cognitive activity in old age that was most protective. “

This research clearly shows that cognitive activity is good for you and your well-being later in life, and that’s an important message to get across. It’s not about knowing what to do after presenting. symptoms of memory or dementia, but how do you prevent dementia by being active earlier in life, as part of a bigger change from just treating dementia to brain health, ”Rowe sums up. as cognitive activity does not alter the presence or severity of brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease, your brain is better at coping with the pathology “and diagnosis and severity are delayed.

Although this study was quite long and extensive, it was performed on predominantly white and well-educated participants. Future research should focus on larger cohorts of diverse adults, the scientists recommend.

In addition to reading, playing, and writing notes daily, learn how to exercise for better brain health and the best foods to limit to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s.