All articles tagged with #dementia prevention
Geriatric medicine experts outline eight lifelong habits to promote healthy aging: prioritize regular physical activity (including tai chi), protect hearing, address vision loss to stay active, follow a Mediterranean-style diet, don’t use tobacco, limit alcohol, and stay mentally and socially engaged after retirement, noting that starting these habits at any age can yield meaningful health benefits.
A neurologist says brain aging begins long before memory lapses and, although aging can’t be halted, several daily habits—brain-friendly eating, regular exercise, quality sleep, mental stimulation, and social connection—can protect memory and thinking; dementia is not an inevitable part of aging, but risk rises with conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, poor sleep, and inactivity, so seek medical advice if warning signs appear.
GSK is launching a large study to determine whether the shingles vaccine Shingrix can lower dementia risk, prompted by observational data suggesting vaccinated individuals may have fewer dementia cases; the trial aims to establish causality and could influence dementia prevention strategies if results are favorable.
An endocrinologist shares a personal choice to start orforglipron, an oral GLP-1, at age 48 to potentially reduce dementia risk after watching her mother’s Alzheimer’s progression. She notes no proven dementia prevention data yet, but cites brain-related mechanisms, observational signals of lower dementia rates with GLP-1s, and mixed trial results. The decision is deeply personal, balancing evolving science with family history and broader health goals, while continuing other healthy aging practices.
Dementia specialists say adding a few brain-boosting foods to your regular meals can help protect cognitive health. The trio highlighted includes leafy greens (daily servings), fatty fish rich in omega-3s (two to three servings per week), and blueberries (daily or regular intake). Experts emphasize these foods support heart and vascular health, provide key nutrients like folate, vitamin E, lutein, and DHA, and should be part of an overall brain-health lifestyle—along with exercise, sleep, social engagement, and stress management—since no single food can prevent dementia.
Researchers suggest that targeting the Apoe gene, particularly its harmful variants Apoe3 and Apoe4, could potentially prevent most cases of Alzheimer's disease, although challenges remain due to the gene's vital functions and widespread presence in the population.
The article emphasizes the importance of regular physical activity for brain health, highlighting how exercise improves cognitive functions, supports neuron growth, and reduces the risk of dementia, with walking and enjoyable activities being highly recommended.
Neuroscientist Jules suggests three simple habits to incorporate into daily tooth brushing—using the non-dominant hand, balancing on one leg, and reversing letter-number sequences—that may help strengthen cognitive functions and potentially lower dementia risk by promoting neuroplasticity and cognitive resilience.
A recent study suggests that a ten-week online brain training program using BrainHQ can make older adults' brains act as if they are a decade younger, by increasing activity in key brain regions, though the findings are preliminary and based on a small sample. The study highlights the potential of mental exercises to support brain health and delay cognitive decline, but emphasizes that longer-term and more inclusive research is needed to confirm these benefits.
A McGill University clinical trial found that 10 weeks of digital brain training with BrainHQ can restore brain chemistry in older adults to levels seen 10 years younger, potentially reducing dementia risk and improving memory without medication.
Research on SuperAgers—people over 80 with youthful cognitive abilities—reveals that social engagement and maintaining brain activity are key factors in preserving mental sharpness and protecting against dementia, with SuperAgers showing less brain atrophy and more social-related neurons, highlighting the importance of socializing for healthy aging.
Regular physical activity, including aerobic exercises, weight training, and light activities like walking, can significantly improve brain health and reduce the risk of dementia by enhancing cognitive function, promoting neuroprotective factors, and altering brain structure, making it a cost-effective strategy for maintaining mental sharpness and preventing conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
A new acronym, SHIELD, simplifies key lifestyle factors—Sleep, Head injury prevention, Exercise, Learning, and Diet—that can help reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease, which is projected to triple by 2050. The framework aims to make prevention strategies more accessible and actionable for the general public.
Leading doctors highlight 'retro walking' as a potential way to improve memory and prevent dementia, with studies showing it boosts activity in the prefrontal cortex and enhances cognitive scores, especially in older adults, while also offering physical benefits like improved balance and muscle strength.
A large study suggests that cycling and active travel modes are associated with a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, as well as larger hippocampal volumes, highlighting the potential brain health benefits of regular physical activity like cycling.