How to lower your Alzheimer’s risk, according to Dr. Daniel Amen | Watch
Scientists reveal the one practice that could prevent dementia as you age
Story by Angelica Stabile
A lack of socializing may be a major risk factor for neurological disorders in older adults.
New research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, has considered how “social frailty” can be a predictor of dementia.
The study, published in The Journals of Gerontology, looked at data from 851 people over the age of 70 in Sydney’s suburbs who did not have dementia at the time.
ALZHEIMER’S RISK DECLINES SHARPLY WITH ONE DAILY LIFESTYLE CHANGE, RESEARCHERS SAY
The researchers evaluated social frailty using measures of social support, frequency of social interactions, sense of purpose, engagement in community or volunteer activities, and the individual’s perceived social roles and connectedness, according to a press release.
Based on this analysis, participants were classified as socially frail, pre-frail or non-frail.
Researchers considered levels of social connection among nearly 900 Australian seniors. iStock© iStock
The participants were followed for over 12 years, undergoing neuropsychological tests every two years to diagnose any new dementia cases. The researchers adjusted for other factors like physical frailty, psychological frailty and health history.
The study concluded that social frailty was associated with a higher risk of dementia, with socially frail individuals facing about a 47% increased risk compared to those in the non-frail group.
SCIENTISTS UNCOVER HOW SOME 80-YEAR-OLDS HAVE THE MEMORY OF 50-YEAR-OLDS
In most socially frail people, the factors that were most strongly associated with this risk included low financial and family satisfaction, infrequent social contact and limited participation in social activity.
Study co-author and clinical psychologist Dr. Suraj Samtani, UNSW Sydney postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, emphasized the consequences of aging people lacking in social connections.
“Social isolation is the biggest risk factor for dementia” late in life, the lead researcher said. iStock© iStock
“In midlife, risk factors like hearing loss and metabolic syndromes like hypertension and diabetes are very important to prevent and manage,” he said in the press release. “But in late life, social isolation is the biggest risk factor for dementia.”
WHY MOST PEOPLE FALL OFF A ‘HEALTH CLIFF’ AT 75 — AND 5 WAYS TO AVOID THE DROP
In an interview with Fox News Digital, co-author and postdoctoral research fellow Dr. Annabel Matison noted that the study population was “generally healthy, well-educated and Caucasian.”
While the researchers would like to confirm these findings among a broader group, Matison commented that the strength of the association between socialization and cognitive decline is “noteworthy.”
“We hope these findings raise awareness that poor social connections, resources and support are risk factors for dementia,” she said. “We encourage older adults to stay socially active with family, friends and neighbors, and to consider volunteering.”
Another recent study by researchers at Cornell University found that social relationships can actually slow cellular aging.
Lead study author Anthony Ong, psychology professor and director of the Human Health Labs in the College of Human Ecology in New York, shared with Fox News Digital how the “depth and consistency” of social connection across a lifetime “matters profoundly.”
“Strong social ties appear to work in the background over many years, building a more resilient body by reducing the chronic, low-grade inflammation that is a key driver of accelerated aging,” he said.
Staying socially engaged and attached to loved ones is key to healthy aging, experts say. iStock© iStock
In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, longevity experts David Cravit and Larry Wolf, the Canada-based authors of “The SuperAging Workbook,” shared several aspects of “super-aging,” including attachments to others.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“I’m lucky enough to have been married to the same wonderful lady for almost 60 years,” Wolf said. “Cultivating contact with people you love, with people you like, and expanding your social network, are all very critical.”
The experts noted that mental and physical exercise are also crucial for keeping the brain young and sharp. Multiple studies have shown that loneliness can be hazardous to humans’ health. In fact, a previous Harvard study found that being lonely is as detrimental as smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an updated notice on the loneliness epidemic and in his 2023 report, he reported a growing decrease in social connection, especially among young people.
Americans have fewer friends than ever before, especially among younger groups, the surgeon general warns. iStock© iStock
Psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics in California, also commented on the grave impact that loneliness may have on human health.
“The number of friends people have has dropped 40% since 1990,” he said in a previous interview with Fox News Digital. “Why? We’re more connected online, but we’re more disconnected in person.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“Loneliness increases stress hormones, making you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression, and it’s just bad for you,” he went on.
“When you’re face-to-face with actual people, your brain has to work so much harder, which ultimately is like working out your brain.”
Original article source: Scientists reveal the one practice that could prevent dementia as you age
Alzheimer’s Disease Archives | Daniel G. Amen, MD
Prevention of Alzheimer’s
Quality of Olive Oil in Greece and Italy lowers your risk for Alzheimer’s and Dementia – Due to Alzheimer’s devastating results, also many hours and funds are being spent on discovering a cure. At this time, scientists are not entirely sure what causes Alzheimer’s disease or how to stop it.
A standard curve has not been found, but there are some studies that suggest that the disease may be delayed, prevented, or even reversed. Below are some examples of studies that offer some hope for Alzheimer’s patients.
MIND Diet and General Diet Changes
One of the main areas of focus – for preventing or slowing down the effects of Alzheimer’s is also a change in diet. The MIND diet is an acronym standing for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, and some studies suggest that the MIND diet can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
The MIND diet is the introduction of 10 important foods, and the exemption of 5.
10 Foods to eat on the MIND diet:
- Berries at least twice a week
- Spinach and other green leafy greens at least six times a week
- Nuts five servings a week
- Fish at least once a week
- Poultry twice a week
- Wine – at least one glass a day
- Vegetables at least once a day
- Olive Oil as the main oil for cooking
- Whole Grains 3 servings daily
- Beans – at least four times a week
5 Foods to avoid:
- Red Meat no more than 3 servings a week
- Fast food/fried food less than once per week
- Cheese less than once a week
- Pastries and Sweets should be very limited
- Butter and Margarine – less than one tablespoon daily
While it is not entirely known why this diet may help, scientists have their theories.
Keith Pierson writes, “…scientists who created the diet think it may work by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress occurs when unstable molecules called free radicals accumulate in the body in large quantities. This often causes damage to cells. The brain is especially vulnerable to this type of damage.”
High consumption of fats (especially from red meat) can cause inflammation and can create an excess of free radicals in the body. These free radicals can cause damage to brain cells which is even more concerning for a person suffering from dementia.
Diets rich in vitamins C and E can help reverse the number of free radicals in the body, thereby helping to protect brain cells. In addition, consumption of vegetables, fruit, and fish rich with omega-3 are helpful with general memory and brain function.
Supplements that are associated with general brain health may also be beneficial. Some of these supplements may include additional omega-3’s, ginkgo biloba, coenzyme Q10, tumeric, and alpha lipoic acid.
Additional Steps
There are other healthy lifestyle options that may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s – Due to the perceived link between a weak cardiovascular system and Alzheimer’s, exercise can be a helpful tool to promote a healthy brain. Scientists suggest a minimum of 30 minutes of moderately vigorous exercise three to four days a week for overall health.
Not smoking, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep are other suggestions that may reduce the risk. There is a small amount of evidence that also suggests that continuing to exercise the brain can be beneficial. Learning new skills, connecting with people, and practicing cognitive activity could help.
Synergistic Treatment
11 lifestyle changes to ward off Alzheimer’s disease | New York Post
There was one small trial performed in 2014 at UCLA that used a comprehensive plan to treat Alzheimer’s patients. Of the 10 people in the study, there were 9 positive outcomes using this plan.
In this study, they likened typical Alzheimer’s treatment plans to using one very good method to fix one hole in a leaky house when there are 35 other holes. While the drugs prescribed may fix one problem associated with Alzheimer’s, there were 35 others that the drug could not compete with. Therefore the drug appeared to be ineffective.
In this comprehensive plan, they targeted issues with each particular patient. Treatment included things like exercising, dietary changes, increased sleep, meditation, supplements, and hormone replacement therapy.
Dr. Dale Bredesen – Search Videos who was responsible for the study, said, “…a broader-based therapeutic approach, rather than a single drug that aims at a single target, may be feasible and potentially more effective for the treatment of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s.”
However the scope of this study was very small, only including 10 participants. There is not enough research into this method to know if it would be effective en masse.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s disease is a very sad and devastating disease. Scientists and researchers will continue to invest money, time, and energy to find a cure for this disease that affects millions.
One beneficial thing that all people can do is to raise awareness for this disease that could easily affect us or our loved ones. The more awareness of the disease, the more likely that we will come up with a cure.
The second thing people can do is to strive to live healthy lifestyles that will help lessen the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The brain is a beautiful thing. We’d be wise to do all we can to protect it.