{"id":1047,"date":"2017-08-10T08:07:39","date_gmt":"2017-08-10T14:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/?p=1047"},"modified":"2017-08-10T08:36:49","modified_gmt":"2017-08-10T14:36:49","slug":"experts-finally-agree-dementia-can-be-prevented","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/experts-finally-agree-dementia-can-be-prevented\/","title":{"rendered":"Experts Finally Agree Dementia Can Be Prevented!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In case you did not get the word, last month at the International Conference on Alzheimer\u2019s\u00a0 in London, a report was presented by the Lancet\u00a0Commission on Dementia Prevention<\/em><\/strong>, Intervention, and Care<\/em>\u00a0(Lancet is perhaps the most prestigious medical journal in the world), wherein they noted\u00a0at least 35%<\/strong>\u00a0of dementia cases can be attributed to\u00a09 modifiable or\u00a0preventable risk factors<\/strong>\u00a0to include a lack of education, physical activity, and social interaction, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression \u00a0and hearing impairment.<\/strong>\u00a0Therefore, they note \u201c\u2026\u00a0more than a third of dementia cases might theoretically be preventable,\u201d by simply\u00a0\u201cacting now<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0on what\u00a0we already know<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moreover, they note \u201cWe have not incorporated other potential risk factors, such as diet, alcohol, living near major roads, or sleep, which could be relevant. Therefore, the potentially preventable fraction of dementia might be\u00a0underestimated<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0in our figures.\u201d Other significant potentially preventable risk factors not mentioned here due to a perceived paucity of controlled studies include prolonged stress, head injuries, heavy metal exposure \u2013 like lead, mercury or aluminum, illegal drugs, over 200 legal medications, some viruses, some anesthesias, some chemotherapies, and exposure to other neuro toxins like paint thinners and pesticides.<\/p>\n

This\u00a0supports our view and that of others, that a\u00a0much higher percentage<\/strong>\u00a0of cases could be prevented.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0For example, they mentioned diet, and no less than 3 other studies presented at the conference noted the importance of diet in Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia prevention. In one study from Rush University strict adherence to a modified Mediterranean diet alone showed a\u00a053% reduction in Alzheimer\u2019s Risk\u00a0<\/strong>over a 5 year period.<\/p>\n

Two studies were presented<\/a> at the conference on the impact of prolonged stress on cognitive functioning, memory and dementia risk. \u201cStressful experiences are known to have an impact on brain function, which could then lead to dementia in the longer term.\u201d Although this particular research could not establish a direct link between stress and an increased risk for dementia we know that stress increases cortisol in the hippocampus, which can in time damage the delicate cells in this the memory center of the brain. And this is precisely the region where Alzheimer’s is most often known to begin.<\/p>\n

Three studies illustrated the importance of sleep<\/a>. They showed that individuals with interrupted or inadequate sleep\u00a0 as from sleep apnea, or shallow breathing, had higher accumulations of \u00a0beta-amyloid plaque and tau, classic hallmark signs of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u00a0 Other studies have shown that during sleep cerebral spinal fluid is able to flush out such debris from the brain, but with inadequate sleep this cannot adequately occur which could account for this increased accumulation. So sleep is definitely critical to brain health and Alzheimer\u2019s prevention.<\/p>\n

The Lancet report is one of the first major studies to identify \u201chearing impairment\u201d as a major risk factor for dementia. This was largely based on the research of Dr. Frank Lin at Johns Hopkins.\u00a0 However, at the conference another study was presented<\/a> supporting this connection.\u00a0 In this study conducted by the University of Wisconsin they looked at 783 individuals in their 50\u2019s and found that those reporting a diagnosis of hearing loss performed worse on a variety of tests of cognitive skills. In addition, when they were examined not more than four years later, those with hearing loss were more than three times more likely than their peers with normal hearing to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The relationship between hearing loss and dementia however, is less clear.<\/p>\n

Dr. Lin theorized that, in addition to loud noises, there are likely biological factors associated with an aging brain, that underlie both hearing loss and cognitive decline. These may include oxidative stress, nutritional deficits, and reduced blood flow.<\/p>\n

As the Lancet experts noted \u00a0\u201cHearing loss in humans might therefore result in uniquely interrelated and detrimental social, cognitive, and brain effects.\u201d And although ideal controlled studies are lacking they concluded that at least available studies suggest \u201chearing aids\u00a0<\/strong>sometimes help<\/strong>\u201d reduce this risk as well. (For additional insights into the connection between hearing loss and dementia and how hearing aids may help, hearing professionals reading this, who are members of IHS may want to read the article Dr. Douglas Beck of Oticon and I wrote published in this month\u2019s edition of The Hearing Professional<\/em>.\u00a0 If you are not a member of the International Hearing Society and would like a copy of this report you can email me and I will send you our pre-publication copy.)<\/p>\n

For those of you who are Speech professionals, Another study<\/a> of individuals at risk for dementia, over time, found those with mild cognitive impairment used more \u201chalting speech and pauses,\u201d and \u201cincreasingly used simpler words as they described objects, people and places… They used more pronouns \u2014 he, she, it and they \u2014 and fewer nouns that would have been more specific.\u201d\u00a0 I noticed this in my brother-in-law at a family reunion a year or so before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s. Such difficulties are of course more a result of cognitive decline than a contributor. However, the FINGER study and Lancet report suggest that if such patterns are identified early enough actions could be taken that may enable at least some of these individuals to reverse this decline.<\/p>\n

So these studies and the Lancet reports emphasis on modifiable or avoidable risk factors is a major step in making the public aware of the fact that\u00a0YES\u00a0indeed<\/strong>, Alzheimer\u2019s and other forms of dementia or memory loss CAN be prevented, or at least in many if not most cases delayed, if appropriate actions are taken soon enough.<\/p>\n

Moreover, it\u2019s interesting to note that studies like the FINGER study in Finland, the Wales Caerphilly study, the EPIC study in Germany, as well as studies by Dr. Shea, at UMass, Dr. Bredesen\u2019s at UCLA and Dr. Fotuhi\u2019s in Virginia, all suggest a\u00a0combined or synergistic approach<\/strong>\u00a0like the one\u00a0we advocate with the American Brain Council<\/a> ,<\/strong>\u00a0can have a much more powerful effect, reducing risk by up to 84%<\/strong>\u00a0(shown in the Fotuhi study) even\u00a0in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n

While many have the impression Alzheimer\u2019s is primarily caused by genetic factors, the Lancet report noted the primary AD gene APoE4\u00a0only accounts for about 7%<\/strong>\u00a0of the equation, and Dr. Shea\u2019s studies showed his simple Perceptiv\u2122 formulation, or likely Memoryze\u2122, plus SAMe which I discussed in my last newsletter, could in most cases, help compensate\u00a0 for that gene form.<\/p>\n

So bottom line, we now have\u00a0all the evidence we need<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0press forward<\/strong>\u00a0with the news that dementia can indeed\u00a0be prevented and moreover, we already know how! \u00a0And the American\u00a0Brain Council<\/strong>, of which I am now a part, has in fact a plan and a package<\/strong>\u00a0that in most cases can dramatically reduce a person\u2019s risk, improve their memory,\u00a0cognitive function and quality of life. As the Lancet researchers note:\u00a0\u201c<\/strong>Effective dementia prevention, intervention, and care\u00a0could transform the future for society<\/strong>\u00a0and vastly improve living<\/strong>\u00a0and dying for individuals\u2026 and their families.\u201d And if you have been reading these newsletters you know enough\u00a0<\/strong>(even if you have not taken our training)\u00a0<\/strong>to play a major role in making that happen for families\u00a0NOW!<\/strong>\u00a0 But for more information or a list of the top 15 risk factors you can email me at David@abcbrain.org<\/a> or call me at 801-529-8238.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/a>In case you did not get the word, last month at the International Conference on Alzheimer\u2019s\u00a0 in London, a report was presented by the Lancet\u00a0Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care\u00a0(Lancet is perhaps the most prestigious medical journal in the world), wherein they noted\u00a0at least 35%\u00a0of dementia cases can be attributed to\u00a09 modifiable or\u00a0preventable […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prevention-strategies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1047"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1050,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1047\/revisions\/1050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}