Preventing dementia, before it takes hold, has become an area of growing focus for researchers in the Alzheimer’s and dementia fields. The Alzheimer’s Association initiated a new study this year entitled “Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk.” It’s a mouthful, for sure, but the study that began recruiting patients this year shows promise of getting to the root of dementia.
This large-scale study, known as U.S. POINTER, will follow 2,500 people who are at high risk of dementia due to circulation problems and who are aged 60 – 79 for two years. These include but are not limited to diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke or heart attack. The study aims to determine whether lifestyle interventions like exercise, a healthy diet, activities that actively engage the brain and social interactions can delay or even prevent cognitive decline.
In 2014, a similar study was undertaken in Finland, comprised of a large-scale, two-year analysis of healthy older adults at increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia (the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability, or FINGER Study). The results reported that a two-year combination therapy simultaneously targeting physical exercise, nutritional guidance, cognitive stimulation, and self-monitoring of heart health risk factors had a protective effect on cognitive function. FINGER and U.S. POINTER join other similar efforts around the globe in a worldwide consortium, World Wide FINGERS (WW-FINGERS). WW-FINGERS will align these research efforts focused on the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias across the globe.
There is already research that supports the theory that these types of non-invasive interventions will make a difference, according to George Schoephoerster, MD, a geriatrician and spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association. However, researchers have recently discovered new evidence about the cognitive element of this equation: Brain games only help your brain get better at the particular game you’re playing and don’t equate beyond that.
This translates to the fact that if you’re trying to improve cognitive function or slow its decline, instead of repetitive games that you already know, it’s key to stimulate the brain with new things, like learning a new language, reading books if you weren’t previously a reader or taking up a new activity, like singing or learning an instrument.
With the knowledge that we’ve acquired over the last few years, and taking into account the ongoing research, Schoephoerster opines that it’s unlikely we will see a cure anytime soon. However, he’s hopeful that Alzheimer’s will someday be a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease that’s managed with medication and lifestyle changes. Similarly, Dr. Dale Bredesen’s book “The End of Alzheimer’s” offers hope to anyone looking to prevent dementia by revealing his research that Alzheimer’s Diseases is not only one condition but three and looks at 36 metabolic factors that can trigger brain atrophy.
Join the research effort: Clinical trials are integral to medical breakthroughs and they can’t happen without participants. If you or someone you know might be interested in being a part of the Alzheimer’s and dementia solution, go to trialmatch.alz.org to learn more about what’s involved and how to enroll in a trial.
If you enjoyed reading today’s blog, check out our blog “Organization Offers Social support to Dementia Sufferers,” which discusses how organizations such as Dementia Mentors are working to prevent feelings of isolation following a dementia diagnosis.