Now the challenge was to determine the level of her dementia, how it was affecting her lifestyle, and whether or not there might be some hope in a new medication that had just been released for clinical trials. Part of the protocol required that she read something, and other parts that she perform an action, or recall items shown to her, and she would need her glasses for these tests.

When asked to replace her glasses, she looked at them as strange objects and had no idea what to do with them. Turning the glasses over and examining them, she still didn’t understand what they were meant to do.

Her daughter, who accompanied her for the evaluation, was almost in tears as she told me, “It has become even worse when we sit down for dinner because she doesn’t know what is food and what utensils are. She often tries to eat her fork, and we have to stop her.”

The woman was in her early 70s and previously had a successful clothing design business. But there had been noticeable slips in her behavior and even her ability to keep her company’s accounts correct. A math whiz, she kept blaming it on the sunlight coming in through the windows in her office.

She no longer went to the office after daily arguments, and her suspicion regarding her staff disrupted her business. Previously, she enjoyed good interactions with everyone in the office. Most had worked with her for decades and were shocked at her behavior.

The Thief We Fail to Acknowledge

Dementia prevalence increases in direct correlation with age; it reaches 1% in the 60–64 age group and 24–33 % in the 85+ age group. The term “dementia with late onset” refers to the disorder’s emergence after the age of 65, whereas “early-onset dementia” describes its incidence before that age. The signs may be subtle and even experienced clinicians may miss the probable diagnosis of dementia.

Roughly half of the 600 older persons whose brain scans and health indicators were investigated went on to acquire cognitive impairment. In addition to signs of brain aging, they found that the genotype, specific cognitive test scores, hearing loss, memory problems reported by the individual themselves, and symptoms of depression were associated with future cognitive impairment in older persons who were otherwise neurologically healthy.

According to a recent study, people with dementia start losing weight at least ten years before their symptoms appear, and this process speeds up in the two to four years leading up to the diagnosis. Dementia progression may be accelerated by hormonal and metabolic changes associated with weight reduction.

I can remember a neighbor who lived alone, was in her 80s, and went out several times a week to volunteer with, as she said,” the elderly at the local hospital.” No, she never saw herself as elderly or incapable of caring for all of her needs.

But one day, she mentioned to me that she had an evil twin coming into her home and hiding things on her. “I know she’s hiding things,” she said, “because I find them in places I would never have put them.” It was at this point that she stopped preparing food for herself, and I had to arrange for a local senior-support organization to deliver meals to her. But things got worse and she was becoming more mentally unstable until she was evaluated by a healthcare professional from that local hospital.

Once the evaluation was completed and she went to meet a team that worked on a dementia-related unit at the hospital where she had volunteered, she related the story of the evil twin. The decision was made that she could be admitted, and they would care for her.

Within months of arriving on the unit, she was discovered to have advanced cancer, had three surgeries, and died. We will never know if her dementia was related, somehow, to her cancer or the use of pain medication for it.

What Do We Look for?

Some of the subtle and not so subtle changes that should be noted in potential neurocognitive changes:

1. Losing track of newly acquired knowledge. Another symptom is an increase in the frequency with which you need to use memory aides, as well as a tendency to forget crucial dates or events.
2. Difficulty maintaining track of regular expenses or following a tried-and-true recipe.
3. Navigating to a known place, problems with a shopping list, or recalling the rules of a beloved game.
4. Sometimes they need assistance with the microwave’s settings or record a TV program.
5. Perplexed by events that do not unfold in real-time. They could become disoriented and lose track of their way at times.
6. They might also have trouble maintaining balance or reading, seeing colors, or gauging contrast, which could make them dangerous drivers.
7. Difficulty keeping up with or contributing to a discussion. They might repeat themselves or freeze up in the midst of a sentence, leaving you to figure out what to say next. They might not know how to spell certain words, have problems identifying commonplace objects, or even call something the wrong name (such a “watch” being called a “hand-clock”). One thing to remember is that sometimes there are regional names for certain things such as a door knocker may be called something else.
8. Possibly misplace items and not be able to trace their path back to them. As the illness advances, he or she may begin to falsely accuse others of stealing.
9. Perhaps they are careless with their money or do not keep themselves clean. Lack of care for personal cleanliness can also be caused by depression.
10. Do not participate in extracurricular activities, hobbies, or social gatherings. If they have a favorite team or pastime, they could struggle to keep up. And feelings of bewilderment, suspicion, depression, anxiety, or terror may set in. Whether they are at home, with friends, or somewhere else, they could quickly become agitated.

Although there are numerous changes that we may notice, there are a number of other reasons that some of these changes may be due to something else. We know that medication as well as a loss of active involvement in work or some other activity may be the reason for changes in behavior.

Remember, don’t jump to a conclusion that the person is suffering from a cognitive impairment. Go slow, consider everything, and have an evaluation by a healthcare professional.

The post Spotlighting Emerging Dementia in Its Many Iterations and Stages appeared first on Medika Life.

Alzheimer’s disease is mostly marked by dementia that includes memory problems, cognitive problems, executive dysfunction, and changes in attitude and behavior. Most people with this disease also have signs of a mental disorder. Careful attention and medicine can help with these signs for a short time, but there are no specific ways to stop or cure Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia mostly affects older people, and the rates of occurrence and prevalence rise with age. This is more common in low- and middle-income countries and places. It is putting a lot of stress on families and societies in terms of money and illness. What does this mean for you if you have someone in your family with AD?

Based on studies of twins, AD is thought to be passed down 70% of the time. Clinically diagnosed AD has found more than 70 genomic loci in people with mostly European heritage. The discovery of these new genomic loci must be taken with a grain of salt.

Let’s look at what genetic inheritance can and cannot do and what may affect it. Even if you had a gene for a specific illness, even a serious mental illness, it might never be what we call “expressed” because there are a variety of things that must coalesce to make that happen.

A cell’s gene expression code is similar to a cookbook. Essential for all bodily functions, each gene is a blueprint for the production of a particular protein. The frequency with which your genes are activated or deactivated, or expressed, depends on a number of conditions.

At birth, you have a blueprint for your genes in the form of your DNA. But environmental factors, including your diet, level of physical activity, and smoking status, can affect gene expression. You name it; it can be impacted by factors including the medications you take.

Also, your gene expression might alter with age or specific medical issues. Although your DNA cannot be changed, there are certain things that can be altered, such as your lifestyle and the environment in which you are born. You can use this to keep yourself healthy and control certain medical issues.

Stress is one of the factors that has been indicated to potentially push these genes to become evident in behaviors, but what else could do it? There are too many variables regarding what might cause it to flare up, and the problem becomes knowing you have a gene for something specific and wondering if you will ever experience it in a behavior of some type.

It is possible that more than a third of cases of dementia could be avoided. Getting kids to go to school and exercise more, keeping up with friends and family, smoking less or quitting altogether, and taking care of hearing loss, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity could all help avoid or delay dementia. There is also some early information about other risk factors that might be able to be changed.

What Does This Mean?

It is possible that further research based on these results may help diagnose and cure diseases in the future. Those who are concerned about the possibility of AD, or who have been found to have the genes, should consider the following:

1 Stay Informed: Learn about current research and developments in Alzheimer’s disease, the genetic basis of the disease, and how this can be managed through changes in lifestyle.

2. Talk about genetic risks. If your family has a history of Alzheimer’s disease, you should see your doctor about genetic testing to assess your risk.

3. Stick to the basics when it comes to keeping fit and avoiding illness — a healthy diet, regular exercise, keeping the mind active, and the control of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

4. Consider participating in research. It is important that more people from different backgrounds become a part of the study to help advance research and develop more personalized treatments.

5. Keep talking to your doctor. Genetic study is interesting, but the best way to handle health issues is to prevent them from happening in the first place through the help of current treatments. If there is anything that you have concerns about or what to do next, you should report it to your healthcare provider.

How Do Interventions Work?

Lifestyle: Engaging in mental exercises on a regular basis, such as solving puzzles, reading, or picking up new skills, can help build cognitive reserve and potentially postpone the start of symptoms.

Sleep: The brain is able to eliminate toxic proteins and consolidate memories when you maintain a quality sleep routine of seven to eight hours per night.

Stress management: Reduced cortisol levels, which can eventually harm brain cells, are one benefit of stress management practices like mindfulness and meditation.

Smoking and alcohol: Promoting brain health through avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol use helps to maintain adequate blood flow and reduce inflammation. Smoking acts as a stress-reduction technique because nicotine is a natural substance reducing anxiety, but the downside is cancer.

Aerobic exercise promotes neuronal and synaptic growth by increasing blood flow to the brain, which carries oxygen and nutrients. By keeping insulin sensitivity high, resistance exercise protects against cognitive loss caused by diabetes and promotes overall brain health. Physical exercise improves clearance processes, which may lower beta-amyloid plaques, a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Regular moderate exercise, even for just 150 minutes a week, improves cardiovascular health, decreases inflammation, and drastically reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Socialization: The brain’s neural connections and plasticity are both supported by the cognitive stimulation that occurs during regular social contact, which is a key component of socialization. Potentially as a result of less stress and a stronger feeling of purpose, those with strong social networks have slower rates of cognitive deterioration. One of the most effective ways to stave off cognitive loss is to participate in group activities that mix socializing with mental or physical demands. Dementia risk factors include social isolation; in fact, research suggests that those who are lonely may have twice the chance of getting Alzheimer’s as those who have strong social connections.

Diet: The anti-inflammatory features of the Mediterranean and MIND diets have been associated with a substantially reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These diets are rich in leafy greens, berries, nuts, fish, and olive oil. Free radicals damage brain cells and contribute to cognitive loss; foods rich in antioxidants can neutralize these radicals.

Overall, despite any genetic inheritance, we may have more power over our cognition than we have been led to believe in the past. Regularly attending to the above points can improve our mental and physical health, as shown by research, and lead to positive outcomes.

The post Alzheimer’s New Gene Discovery May Prove Decisive in Early Diagnosis or Not. What CAN You Do? appeared first on Medika Life.

The observational study, which followed a large group of older adults, discovered this:

Individuals with cancer were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those without cancer.

The association appeared consistent across several common cancer types, including breast, prostate, and lung cancer.

Study Details

This study utilized a large population-based cohort analysis drawing from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), encompassing 3,021,508 individuals aged 60 and older.

Researchers collected data over 30 years (1988–2018).

Study Results

After an average follow-up of 9.3 years, individuals with cancer exhibited a one-quarter (25 percent) lower risk for dementia than the rest of the cohort.

Here are the key findings:

• Overall, cancer was associated with a lower risk of dementia.
• This association was observed regardless of whether cancer developed after database entry or was present at entry.
• When accounting for the competing risk of death, the protective effect of cancer against dementia was even more pronounced.
• Specific cancer types, including breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and melanoma, were all individually linked to a significantly lower dementia risk (lower risk from one-third to one-fifth).

My Thoughts

The researchers are not sure why cancer may be associated with a lower Alzheimer’s disease risk.

The authors acknowledge some study limitations, including the potential underreporting of dementia.

We need more research to confirm these observational findings.

For now, here are some things we all can do to reduce our Alzheimer’s disease risk potentially:

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Get regular exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Don’t smoke.
• Limit alcohol use.
• Get enough sleep.
• Manage stress.
• Stay socially connected.

If you have cancer, it is important to talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The post Could Cancer Hold the Key to Preventing Alzheimer’s? appeared first on Medika Life.

That Reusable Water Bottle Might Be Killing You (Slowly)

A bit hyperbolic, I grant, but the truth might surprise you.

medium.com

You’re Drinking Plastic: How Tea Bags Are Harming Your Gut

I love tea.

medium.com

It’s a topic that keeps becoming more alarming, and a new study has added to the confusion.

We already know these tiny plastic particles, manufactured or broken down from larger plastics, damage our environment.

Past research has linked microplastics to a higher risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, lung disease, and even cancer.

The average person ingests tens of thousands of these particles yearly through the water, food, and air we drink.

New Research on Microplastics and Dementia

And now, this latest research has me even more concerned.

A team led by Dr. Matthew Campen at the University of New Mexico has discovered something disturbing:

Microplastic levels in the brain are significantly higher than in other organs like the liver and kidneys.

This finding, published this month in Nature Medicine, raises serious questions about what these particles do to our brains.

I will explore what this could mean for our health, particularly concerning conditions like dementia.

Polyethylene — Most Common Brain Microplastic

Researchers analyzed brain tissue samples from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator collected between 2016 and 2024.

The study examined human brain microplastic concentrations.

Could these tiny particles pose a threat to our neurological health?

The investigators developed a technique that allowed them to identify 12 polymer types in the brain.

Polyethylene — a plastic widely used in bags, packaging, water pipes, and insulation — was the most common polymer in the brain.

Upon analysis of the study’s findings, researchers found this:

Microplastic concentrations were much greater in the brain than in other body areas, including the liver, kidneys, placenta, and testes.

High Brain Microplastics Linked to Dementia

The association does not imply a causal relationship, but this finding particularly struck me:

Brain tissue from individuals diagnosed with dementia had up to 10 times more microplastics than those without the disease.

Their study showed brain tissue to have a high concentration of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs).

Their study revealed a high concentration of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in these areas.

This finding raises crucial questions about the mechanisms by which MNPs reach brain tissue, the processes involved, and how they might contribute to nerve degeneration.

Further research is needed to understand these pathways and their potential impact on neurological health.

Protecting Your Brain From Microplastics

Here are some ways you might protect your body (including your brain) from microplastics:

• Use reusable containers, avoiding plastics where possible
• Minimize single-use plastic use (and certainly do not use it over and over)
• Choose foods (including seafood) that are from sources with fewer microplastics

• Minimize ultra-processed food consumption

Potential risk of microplastics in processed foods: Preliminary risk assessment.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• Don’t heat plastic food packaging.
• Avoid bottled water. I prefer filtered tap water.
• Vacuum your home frequently. Invest in a HEPA vacuum device.
• Have a good ventilation system at home (and ideally at work, too)
• Wear natural clothing (such as organic cotton or hemp instead of synthetic fibers)
• Avoid air pollution if possible

Remember: Much global plastic production is used to package food and beverages.

However, this plastic is susceptible to wear and tear during use, which fragments the material into tiny particles known as microplastics.

What are your thoughts? Am I overly concerned about microplastics? It is a de minimus risk?

The post Dementia’s Silent Thief: Could Microplastics Be the Culprit? appeared first on Medika Life.

Both short-term and long-term exposure to wildfire smoke and other pollutants like ozone and diesel emissions can cause inflammation in the brain. We believe pollutants in the lungs cause the neurological effects. Previous research has suggested that breathing in particulate matter (PM) causes pulmonary proteolysis, creating fragmented peptides that enter the bloodstream and weaken the blood–brain barrier (BBB).

Climate Central, a non-profit group, says that every person in the US took in more harmful wildfire smoke in 2023 than in any other year since 2006. Studies show that over the last ten years, exposure has grown 27 times in the United States.

Pollutants from wildfire smoke are mixed together, but fine particulate matter (PM2.5) makes up most of it and is a significant health risk. A study of more than 1.2 million people in southern California over the course of ten years found that wildfire smoke raises the chance of dementia more than any other type of air pollution. Researchers indicate that wildfire smoke is more dangerous to brain health than other types of air pollution.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is air pollution from industry, cars, and wildfire smoke. These are very small drops of solid and liquid matter in the air, 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. The chance of getting dementia was much higher when people were exposed to PM2.5 from wildfire smoke than when people were exposed from other sources of air pollution. Smoke from other sources increases the risk of dementia, but not as much as smoke from wildfires.

Mental Health Consequences

On days with a lot of pollution, more people go to the hospital for depression, suicide attempts, and psychotic episodes. Study after study shows that children whose mothers were exposed to high amounts of particulates while they were pregnant are more likely to have motor and cognitive problems as adults.

One study is one of the first to look at the effects of particulate matter on teens, whose brains are still growing.

Data from 10,000 pre-teens in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD), the largest US child health study, was analyzed. Two of the 21 study sites are at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Researchers looked at parent questionnaires from four different times over three years and found that for both boys and girls, each extra day of exposure at unsafe levels increased the chance that they would have depression, anxiety, and other “internalizing symptoms” up to a year later.

But wildfire smoke doesn’t only affect the immediate area. While the exact distance depends on the wind and weather, smoke from wildfires can move hundreds of miles. This wide area has an effect on the air quality in places far from the fire, and the effects can last for weeks.

Smoke from wildfires, as previously noted, can have a significant effect on health. Some of the chemicals and small particles in smoke can impact the eyes, nose, and throat, making it hard to breathe, cough, and wheeze. If someone already has a breathing problem, like asthma, these signs can get worse.

How Can You Protect Yourself

It’s important to remember how the air quality is affected by the flames in the area, even if you are miles away. These are some simple things you can do to stay away from smoke and clean the air in your home and car.

1. Spend as much time as possible inside
Do not go outside as much, especially if you are working out when the air quality is poor. Inside is the best place to be when there is smoke. Keep a close eye on local news on the air quality. They often include a color-coded Air Quality Index (AQI) to help you decide how active you should be.

2. Close all the doors and windows
All of your windows and doors should be closed to keep smoke out of your home. Weather stripping or towels can fill in holes under doors and windows if you can. If your whole-house fan or window air conditioner does not have a HEPA filter, do not use them. They can bring smoke inside.

3. Use an air cleaner
If you have an air cleaner, especially one with a HEPA filter, use it to help clean the air inside your home. You might want to use portable air cleaners in the bedrooms and living rooms where you spend the most time. Do not use things that make ozone because it can make the air quality worse.

4. Create a room with clean air
Set aside one room as a “clean air room” if keeping your whole house smoke-free is hard. A HEPA air filter should be set up in a room with few windows and doors. During times of smoke, spend most of your time in this room.

5. Know how to use your air conditioner well
If you have an air conditioner, make sure it is set to bring in air from outside and move it inside. Keep the windows closed and, your car, set your air conditioner to the recycling mode to keep smoke out of your car while you drive.

6. Stay away from things that make indoor pollution worse
When the air quality outside is a concern, it is important to cut down on indoor pollution sources as well. Do not use gas stoves, burn candles, or smoke inside. The air quality inside can get even worse, and these actions can make the environment more dangerous.

7. Put on a mask if you need to.
If you have to go outside, wear a mask to keep out small particles. Wearing N95 respirators or KN95 masks can help protect you from dangerous particles in wildfire smoke. Scarves or masks made of cloth will not keep smoke out.

8. Keep an eye on air quality
You can check the air quality in your area in real time with apps or websites. There is a simple way to tell if the air is safe to breathe with the Air Quality Index (AQI), which helps you plan your day.

9. Drink plenty of water and look after your health
It is important to stay hydrated because wildfire smoke can irritate your lungs and make it harder to breathe. Your lungs and sinuses stay moist when you drink plenty of water. For people who already have conditions like asthma, make sure they have all of their medicines on hand. Also, do not wait to call their doctor if they have trouble breathing or other signs.

We are beginning to suffer through the effects of climate change and wildfires are a result. Living with these conflagrations may mean changes over a long period of time because climate change will be with us for decades, if not longer. Lifestyle changes are mandated if we expect to maintain our health when we need to interact with wildfire-induced pollution.

The post Wildfire Smoke Linked to Dementia, Brain Damage and Body Health, So Beware appeared first on Medika Life.

I am struck by something I recently read in the Wall Street Journal:

The fight against dementia starts in your 40s.

Not your 70s or 80s.

A growing body of evidence suggests that the fight against dementia should begin earlier, before the brain changes that facilitate cognitive decline.

My Goals

In today’s fast-paced world, concerns about dementia and cognitive decline are more prevalent than ever.

I know I am not alone in my concerns. Do you fear cognitive decline or dementia?

I want to share powerful tactics I use to try to drop my dementia risk. Join me in my journey to safeguard my brain health.

I will share actionable insights and practical tips to help you maintain cognitive vitality and embrace a fulfilling life.

I Focus on Heart Health

Good heart health is the key to optimizing my brain health and focus today.

The more I investigate cognitive decline, the more convinced I am that optimizing my heart health in midlife is a key element to avoiding a decline in my cognitive abilities.

OK, so what can you do?

While I know there is nothing I can do to guarantee I will not suffer from dementia (or other forms of cognitive decline), I focus on physical activity, diet, avoiding bad habits — such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption — and more.

Brain and heart health are intimately associated with one another.

Shakespeare on the Heart

Listen to Shakespeare’s take in The Life of King Henry the Fifth:

“A good leg will fall, a straight back will stoop, a black beard will turn white, a curled pate will grow bald, a fair face will wither, a full eye will wax hollow. But a good heart…is the sun and moon…for it shines bright and never changes, but keeps its course truly.” ― William Shakespeare.

As I recall, my love for Shakespeare’s Henry V began in high school.

As someone who has lived a full life, I find his work ever more insightful. I am inspired.

Let’s look at strategies I use to drop my risk of ever suffering from a cognitive decline (such as dementia).

#1. I Focus on Blood Pressure

I am proud to say that my blood pressure has dropped significantly over the last several years.

Here’s how I got down to a blood pressure of 110/76.

I aim to keep my systolic blood pressure (the top number) at 120 or less. When I was over 130/80, I turned to lifestyle changes rather than medications.

Blood Pressure Goals

Most of us should aim for systolic blood pressure — the pressure in our blood vessels when our heart beats and pumps blood — of 120 or less.

The diastolic pressure — when our hearts refill with blood — should be 80 or lower.

If your blood pressure is 130/80 or above, your healthcare provider will likely suggest you do as I did: embrace a healthy lifestyle.

I wanted to make sure I did not hit 140/90 when my doctor indicated that she would offer medicine.

Tips for Dropping Your Blood Pressure

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers some valuable guidance for dropping blood pressure:

• Get at least 30 minutes of natural light exposure. This approach is challenging in beautiful (but gray in the winter) Seattle, so I have a light therapy box as a supplemental aid.
• Don’t smoke.
• Eat a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Manage stress.

#2. I Aim For 7 to 9 Hours of Sleep

Don’t get me wrong; I am not an optimal sleeper.

However, I improved my sleep hygiene and averaged seven hours of nightly sleep last week.

9 Tips for Better Sleep

Here are some of the ways I became a better sleeper:

• I blocked the light out. Too much light exposure throws off my sleep and circadian rhythm. I turned to blackout curtains over my windows (as I don’t feel comfortable wearing a sleep mask). I try to avoid the blue light of devices — think computers and televisions — the hour before bedtime as I don’t want to mess with my body’s sleep-promoting melatonin production.
• I get quiet. I feel calmer when I quiet the house in the evening. Some of my friends prefer white noise machines, fans, or earplugs.
• I stay cool. I keep my thermostat at 65 to 68° F degrees. While we all have a preferred temperature (mine is around 60, but my wife tilts her head at me like I am a monster if I turn it down that much), experts recommend aiming for 60 to 67° F (15 to 19° C) if you have control.
• I get up at the same time each day and awaken within a few minutes on either side of 5:30 a.m. Consider being consistent with your go-to sleep and awakening times, even on weekends.
• I get at least 30 minutes of natural light exposure. This is a challenge in beautiful (but gray in the winter) Seattle, so I also have a light therapy box.
• I limit caffeine consumption to the morning. Using caffeine to overcome daytime sleepiness is a fool’s errand; I would suffer from chronic sleep deprivation.
• I reserve my bed for sex and sleep only.
• No nightcaps for me. Alcohol can induce drowsiness but can wreck sleep quality.
• I invested in a good bed and mattress.

#3. I Get Physical Activity

I get a weekly minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity. This amount translates to at least 30 minutes daily for five days per week.

I love that I could lower my blood pressure by focusing on my lifestyle.

I measure my blood pressure regularly to make sure I am on track.

Preparing to get on stage before a large audience for a physique competition certainly focuses me.

#4. I Control My Cholesterol

I certainly smiled as I removed the diagnosis of high triglycerides from my medical chart.

Here is how I did it: I turned to a balanced diet, increased my fruits (and vegetables to a lesser degree), and exercised.

I don’t smoke or consume alcohol, so I did not need to worry about those habits.

I was delighted to see my LDL (“bad” cholesterol) drop below 70. Anything below 100 would have been good, but given my dad died in his 86th year of a stroke, I prefer the lower number.

Do you know your cholesterol level?

#5. I Maintain a Healthy Weight

I maintain a healthy weight. Avoiding significant weight gain is more challenging for most of us with age.

I know I have to work harder to avoid weight gain.

Body mass index (BMI) is a decidedly imperfect health measure.

Still, my BMI of 22 to 23 is within the recommended range of 20 to 25.

Final Thoughts

For dementia risk reduction, I optimize my heart health.

The same phenomena that can promote heart artery blockage can affect my brain’s blood vessels, interfering with blood flow (and oxygen delivery).

There are no guarantees. I know that I can still get dementia despite my lifestyle interventions. Still, I love that I may be dropping cognitive decline risk by focusing on heart health and these variables:

• blood pressure
• sleep
• physical activity
• cholesterol (and diet)
• weight
• not smoking or using excessive alcohol

Finally, I stay mentally and socially engaged. Continuing work into my 60s should help me stimulate my brain.

My lifestyle focus will lead me to graceful aging (I hope).

The post Strategies to Slash My Dementia Risk: My Journey to Promote Brain Health appeared first on Medika Life.

As soon as the video came on, I knew I was witnessing my mother’s final moments. It was too loud for me to tell her anything — that I loved her; that I was grateful for everything she had done for me; that I was proud of all she had accomplished — and I convinced myself that it would be easier to speak if I could take a few minutes to get off the ship and call back from a quieter spot. By the time I was able to ring again, she was gone.

The awful truth is that I said goodbye to my mom a long time ago. She first showed the lasting signs of Alzheimer’s Disease more than a decade ago and her decline was steep but lengthy. Despite continuing to travel to remote areas of Africa and Asia as a volunteer health worker — a path she picked up after joining the Peace Corps in retirement with my dad — she knew something was wrong. Her memory and judgment started to fade rapidly just before the pandemic, and I took whatever opportunities I had to share my feelings with her. COVID-19 isolation took its toll and by the time we could spend time together, she no longer knew who I was.

My experience with Alzheimer’s is one shared by millions of people around the world. Right now, in the U.S. alone, six million people are afflicted with the disease or a related form of dementia. And that number is expected to explode over the next 25 years to 13 million cases with the long tail of aging Baby Boomers. The failure rate for new therapeutics has been remarkably high. The two approved drugs have significant downsides, but that could change as artificial intelligence and modified mRNA treatments demonstrate greater viability.

What else could help?

We must prioritize Alzheimer’s as a public health threat and focus greater resources on reducing many of the root causes that scientists now suspect are linked to increased likelihood of developing the disease.

For years, I was among the many people who believed that Alzheimer’s Disease was largely linked to genetics. If my mother had it, and my grandmother had it, then there was a good chance Alzheimer’s was in my future as well. But this is wrong. Only 1 percent of cases are inherited, and most are related to rare, early-onset forms of the disease.

Increasingly, scientists are finding stronger links with other health threats — hypertension, inactivity, diabetes — that could signal predisposition. Reducing these chronic health issues has been a white whale in public health — it’s notoriously difficult to encourage people to adopt healthier behavior.

The expected boom in Alzheimer’s Disease cases comes with a unique opportunity.

One of the most effective ways to change behavior is by providing people with a single person or patient with whom they can identify. It’s called the identifiable victim effect, and it works like this: humans frequently get overwhelmed by large numbers — the thousands of people who die in a war, or get infected with a virus, or suffer from malnutrition. Stories that include statistics and big numbers lose their punch because the scale overwhelms us. We are numb to the impact as it relates to our own lives.

But when we hear a story about one person who is similar to someone we know, or we experience a health episode ourselves, we are significantly more likely to change our behavior and to advocate to those around us to consider alternatives. This may be a possible opportunity for course correction against Alzheimer’s: As more people experience their loved ones battling the disease or are thrust into the role of caretaker, the awareness of a connection between chronic disease and Alzheimer’s prevention could usher in a dramatic shift in healthier behavior among younger generations.

Such a shift can’t come too soon.

The projected economic burden from Alzheimer’s Disease is already $321 billion and is expected to top a staggering $1 trillion by 2050. Family and volunteer caretakers already spend 18 billion hours of unpaid time helping relatives with Alzheimer’s Disease. As more people like me enter the sandwich generation of caring for young families and aging parents at the same time, it is fair to assume that we will see a decline in productivity and corresponding increases in mental health crises and the kind of stressful behavior that fuels the cycle of health issues later in life. Outside of the companies that stand to profit from the health challenges of an aging population directly, the looming economic burden of Alzheimer’s should be a clear signal that chronic disease prevention is everyone’s business.

Framing Alzheimer’s Disease as a public health imperative linked to chronic disease prevention could be the catalyst we need to encourage younger people to adopt healthier behavior while there’s still enough time.

The post We Have More Control Over Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease Than We Think appeared first on Medika Life.

Dementia is a group of cognitive disorders that affect a person’s ability to think, remember, and reason. Exploring potential preventative measures for this condition is important, given that no known cure exists.

One potential risk-reducing measure is diet. Studies have shown that certain dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, may reduce the risk of developing dementia. Additionally, specific nutrients and foods, like omega-3 fatty acids and leafy greens, have been linked to improved brain health and function.

While more research is needed to understand the relationship between diet and dementia fully, there is promising evidence to suggest that making dietary changes may be a practical step in preventing this condition.

“Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depths of some devine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy autumn fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.”
― Alfred Lord Tennyson

Dementia is common

Dementia is a catch-all term for several diseases that impact thinking, memory, and the ability to perform the activities of daily living. Unfortunately, the illness worsens over time. While dementia often strikes older individuals, it is not inevitable with aging.

Here are some of the things that increase dementia risk, according to the World Health Organization:

• age (more common in those 65 or older)
• high blood pressure
• high blood sugar (diabetes)
• being overweight
• smoking
• consuming too much alcohol
• being sedentary
• being socially isolated
• depression.

Alzheimer’s dementia causes

While for the most part, we do not know the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is related to several diseases that, over time, destroy nerve cells in the brain. These changes typically lead to deterioration in cognitive functioning (the ability to process thought) beyond what we typically observe with normal aging.

Dementia does not affect consciousness, but cognitive impairment is commonly associated with mood changes, behavioral issues, or problems with motivation.

Dementia symptoms

As once-healthy nerve cells (neurons) in the brain cease to work or lose connections with other brain cells, dementia symptoms emerge. We all lose neurons with age, but those with dementia have a much greater loss.

Dementia symptoms vary among individuals but often include the following:

• Memory loss, confusion, or poor judgment
• Difficulty understanding, speaking, and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing
• Getting lost in a familiar neighborhood
• Challenges handling money responsibly (for example, paying bills)
• Repeating questions over and over again
• Using unusual words to refer to familiar things
• Taking longer to finish normal daily tasks
• Losing interest in normal daily activities or events
• Hallucinating or experiencing delusions or paranoia
• Acting impulsively [or mood changes]
• Not caring about other people’s feelings
• Losing balance and problems with movement

I would add the following symptoms: Feeling anxious, angry, or sad about memory loss. Some have personality changes or inappropriate behavior. Others withdraw from social activities or work.

It can be helpful to consider an individual’s current abilities and watch for changes that might signal dementia. Often, symptoms worsen over time (although some may disappear).

Ultimately, many folks with dementia cannot recognize family members or friends, may have challenges moving around, struggle with eating or drinking, and can lose bowel or bladder control.

Common dementia forms

Dementia is an umbrella term for many diseases or injuries that damage the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of the condition, representing 60 to 70 percent of cases.

Other dementia forms include:

• Vascular dementia.
• Dementia with Lewy bodies (abnormal deposits of protein inside nerve cells).
• A group of diseases contributes to frontotemporal dementia (degeneration of the brain’s frontal lobe).

Some develop dementia after a stroke or are associated with infectious diseases like HIV. Others get dementia in the context of harmful use of alcohol, repeated traumatic brain injuries (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), or nutritional deficiencies. There are also mixed forms of dementia.

Diet and dementia — A new review

I am concerned about dementia, not because I have a higher risk but because the idea of losing my mind terrifies me. I try to get adequate sleep and physical activity and embrace intellectual challenges. I often wonder about what role diet might play in mitigating dementia risk.

Alas, diet studies are notoriously difficult to do. The available evidence hints at the ability of some foods and diets to reduce dementia risk. The New York Times recently queried two dozen experts and reviewed the clinical literature to understand the association between nutrition and dementia better.

The article notes that individuals with heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure have a higher risk of experiencing age-related cognitive decline.

A poor diet and sedentary behavior influence the risk of developing these problems. Let’s turn to some evidence-based ways that you may reduce your chances of suffering from cognitive decline.

Two diets that protect against cognitive decline

Keep your arteries healthy, and you will drop your risk of dementia. The Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet — both of which incorporate fresh produce, legumes and nuts, fish, whole grains, and olive oil — strongly protect against cognitive decline.

A 2017 study analyzed the diets and cognitive performance of over 5,900 older U.S. adults. Those most closely adhering to either the Mediterranean diet or the MIND diet had a one-third reduction in their risk of cognitive impairment (than those adhering to these diets less strictly).

Want more evidence? In a 2022 Israeli randomized controlled trial, researchers took brain scans of over 200 individuals split into three diet groups. Here are the results after 18 months:

Those who followed a “green” Mediterranean diet — one rich in a nutrient-packed green plant called Mankai — had the slowest rate of age-related brain loss (atrophy). Those following a traditional Mediterranean diet were close behind. Researchers saw the greatest declines among those who followed regular (less plant-based) healthy diet guidelines that allowed for more processed and red meat.

What is good for the arteries is good for the brain. Commenting in the New York Times, Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, explains that “pretty much anything that will help keep arteries healthy will reduce risk of dementia.”

Here are beginner’s guides to the MIND and Mediterranean diets:

The MIND Diet

The MIND diet is designed to prevent dementia and loss of brain function as you age. The MIND diet combines the…

www.healthline.com

Mediterranean Diet 101: Meal Plan, Foods List, and Tips

Rich in flavorful ingredients like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and heart-healthy fats, the Mediterranean diet is…

www.healthline.com

Diet and dementia — My take

Are there miracle foods when it comes to dodging cognitive decline? No, but consuming lots of fruits and vegetables is good. And no, supplements are not a good substitute. I love this pithy observation of Dr. Ronald Petersen, a neurologist and the director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center:

“If it comes from a plant, eat it. If it’s made in a plant, don’t eat it.”

The post Can Food Ward Off Dementia? Two Diets Come Out on Top. appeared first on Medika Life.

They drew blood at the many clinical trial sites, psychological testing was administered and the families, dutifully and in hope, brought their affected loved ones week after week. The trial would go on with hundreds of supposedly healthy, but impaired, older adults agreeing to all of it. And yet there was one piece missing in the trials and no one noticed it. What was it?

We stood at a major medical center in the New England states and talked about the patients, the test results, and the findings. Among those peering at the data were several interns writing dissertations on the disease, each one looking for a scrap on which to pin their epic piece of professional accomplishment.

I had recently returned from a trip to the Mid-West as part of my travels to various centers and I had one question that bothered me. As a psychologist, they trained me to look at people, but not confine my questions to one person, but to look at the group. After visiting at least ten centers, something became apparent to me and I had to voice my concern.

“Where’s the data on the caregivers,” I asked the group. They looked at me as though I must be falling into Alzheimer’s grip, too. Data on caregivers? No one was collecting that.

We know people don’t live in vacuums, and yet here was a multi-million dollar grant, written over weeks, that concentrated solely on testing the patient in every regard but one, the social side. Sure, they had a scale for that. How did they prepare themselves for the day? Were they able to dress, close their buttons, and comb their hair? Could they recognize themselves in the mirror? How did they interact with others?

I remembered my interaction with a couple where the wife began crying. Her husband, a former editor of a well-known journal, was frequently in the basement, fashioning bayonets from kitchen knives. The reason? He said he’d have to defend them once “they” came. Who “they” were was never mentioned, but they were out there and they’d be coming.

She had to put a bracelet with his name and phone number on it around his wrist when he went out on his bicycle now because he often got lost. Driving was out of the question after several car accidents. But the bike didn’t prove a suitable solution, either. Now, he had to wait and prepare at home and couldn’t leave her alone because they were coming.

As I sat and listened to her and many other spouses over the months of my travels, I became convinced that the protocol had a flaw; nothing about the caregivers. We didn’t ask them if they were depressed or anxious, or how they got through this incredible journey into darkness. Most of the time, they sat quietly next to the patient. This was less to help our research than to encourage the patient to take part.

I recall the husband who tried to eat paperclips because he couldn’t decide what was food and what wasn’t. Often, he’d leave the couple’s seventeenth-floor apartment, and, once out the door, he didn’t know which apartment was theirs. He’d opened the only door he found and was then locked into the stairwell.

Another patient, a woman in her 70s, once she took her eyeglasses off, couldn’t figure out how to put them back on. She also had difficulty at dinnertime, trying to eat the flatware instead of the food.

Imagine the frustration, alarm, and depression any of this can cause someone when it happens daily. How can anyone tolerate it without some help for their mental health?

We have diagnosed slightly fewer than seven million people in the United States with Alzheimer’s. If each of them has one caregiver, the number of people who require help with this disorder will be doubled. And, if things progress, thanks to medical advances, the number may quadruple in the next decade or two. But who is looking at the disease’s effects on caregivers, who, like the primary patient, are suffering from, if not with, Alzheimer’s?

I saw the mental torment of the man who had to drive his wife for almost two hours from their home to the testing center. “She kept changing the radio dials all the way,” he said, almost sobbing. “I couldn’t get her to stop.”

Then there was the extremely patient aide who had to keep coaxing an elderly woman with a promise of ice cream and lunch at a local deli. “All she wants to do is go for ice cream,” she said. The patient was delightful and used humor to answer every question. It turned out to be a common defense against memory loss and the pain it caused so many people.

One man, who had been married for almost fifty years, was on the verge of tears as he told me how his wife screamed when he tried to get into bed with her. “She keeps saying she has a husband, and he’ll come and find him there.”

Another man said that his wife was sure that someone was trying to break into their million-dollar home, so they had security systems put in at least three times. She never felt safe, whatever system was installed. And she kept firing the staff because she was sure they were stealing. In fact, she couldn’t remember where she’d put her jewelry and accused them of stealing it.

I turned to the group that day and asked what was the reason no measures were being taken for caregivers. As I recall, I said, “It’s a great resource for a dissertation any of you want to write.” I think that caught more attention than the computer screen.

Of course, that was two decades ago and we’re still trying to figure out how to help the other Alzheimer’s patients, the caregivers. How has the spread of this scary disease through social contact hurt their physical and mental health?

We have two groups that need to be assessed and treated, but we often fail to notice the second one.

The post The Forgotten Ones in the Tragedy of Alzheimer’s Disease appeared first on Medika Life.

Our taste for junk food high in fat and sugar has been cultivated, and it alters the brain’s reward circuitry, driving an addiction-like behavioural phenotype of compulsive overeating. But it doesn’t stop at obesity.

There is growing evidence to suggest that there is an association between the consumption of ultraprocessed foods and cognitive decline. In a cohort study of 10,775 individuals, higher consumption of ultraprocessed foods was associated with a higher rate of global and executive function decline after a median follow-up of 8 years.

Ultraprocessed foods often contain additives such as artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. They are typically high in calories, fat, and sugar. But it’s not simply these foods, but how our body processes food and our gut microbiota.

Research is pointing to the relationship between our gut and neurodegenerative disorders with recent studies denoting an association between Alzheimer’s and changes in the gut microbiome. The belief is that there is a link between how high fats and simple carbohydrates are processed in the gut resulting in changes in cognition.

The idea that what we eat is mind-altering has been explored for over a decade, but it is now coming to the fore. The exact pathways between impaired cognition and food choices are still under consideration.

The evidence related to neurologic disorders and emotional disturbances, such as depression, has established a gut-brain axis interaction (GBA) at work. Both healthy and unhealthy diets provide meaningful, previously unknown connections in our nervous system and our brain’s functioning. Who thought a life of hot dog eating could cause dementia? Scientists now see how careful food selection may ward off cognitive decline.

When you are next tempted to go for those highly processed goodies, do your brain a favor and pass them up. Practicing this type of personal food-selection discipline will be well worth it in your future functioning.

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