Kosher Fitness
By Michael Ungar
The most recent issue of AARP Bulletin (March 2024) has a cover story on Alzheimer’s Disease. It reports that, for the first time in close to 20 years, new drugs are being approved for the treatment of the disease. Not only that, there may soon be better ways to diagnose it—including a simple blood test. The focus among researchers has shifted, as well, from only looking at the plaque, which is found in the brain of those with Alzheimer’s Disease, to also looking at neural connections and inflammation. The article is full of information and definitely worth a read.
What I found most compelling was the surprising news that Alzheimer’s Disease diagnoses are actually on the decline. From 2000 to 2016, the rate dropped 30% in the United States according to a 2022 Rand Corporation study! What accounts for this stunning trend?
As noted above, it is NOT because of any new drugs. Instead, researchers believe that the focus placed on heart health over the last 20 years has paid dividends in other areas, such as dementia. According to another 2022 study—this one from the University of Minnesota—”41 percent of Alzheimer’s and related dementias were attributed to a dozen modifiable risk factors, of which high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity had the most impact.” In other words, we can change our behaviors and lower our odds of getting dementia.
A sidebar in the article pointed out a number of behaviors that can prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Don’t smoke! Enough said.
- Keep blood pressure and blood sugar at healthy levels. Hypertension and diabetes increase the risk of memory and thinking problems by 41%.
- Get regular exercise. Get moving and lower your risk for all dementias by 28% and Alzheimer’s by 45%.
- Eat more healthy foods. A diet limited in red meats, saturated fats, and added sugars that is also high in produce can lower your chances of getting AD and dementia by 48%. Berries and spinach are thought to protect brain cells.
- Take a multivitamin. Multivitamins cannot replace a good diet but they have been shown to have a beneficial effect on the brain.
- Care for your ears and eyes. A University of Toronto study in 2022 showed that hearing and/or vision losses increase the risk for cognitive problems by 20-50%. Hearing aids and vision care can help.
- Be attentive to mental health issues. Stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness over time can contribute to cognitive decline. Seek help for these conditions.
- Get quality, regular sleep. Sleeping is what allows our brains to clear out waste; sleeping problems can prevent that from occurring. Take appropriate steps to improve sleep.
Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias are frightening—both to those who receive the diagnosis and for their loved ones. It is reassuring to see that progress is being made in research for diagnosis and treatment. What is most exciting to me is knowing that our own actions can have a positive impact. It is not just a crapshoot (or even based solely on genetics). We can (up to a point) help prevent cognitive decline as we age!
This lightly-edited blog with photo was originally published on kosher-fitness.com on 3/26/24 by Rabbi Ungar.
