A major new discovery by scientists could pave changes in how we treat the deterioration of the mind in older people.
A groundbreaking new discovery by scientists at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine could lead to a major change in how we deal with aging brains to prevent cognitive decline resulting in dementia and Alzheimer’s. A new report says that a combination of exercise, controlling blood pressure, and some form of brain training may drastically reduce mental decline.
Scientists cautioned that more research is needed before doctors begin prescribing the routine to patients who may be at risk of Alzheimer’s, but it’s an exciting new finding. Currently, there aren’t any proven ways to prevent Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Also, those three strategies don’t do any harm, and two of them are certainly beneficial. Scientists pursued this study because of a belief in scientific circles that the changes in the brain that lead to Alzheimer’s begin early on, and therefore may be able to be prevented.
“There is good cause for hope that in the next several years much more will be known about how to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, as more clinical trial results become available and more evidence emerges,” said Alan I. Leshner, chair of the committee and CEO emeritus, American Association for the Advancement of Science. “Even though clinical trials have not conclusively supported the three interventions discussed in our report, the evidence is strong enough to suggest the public should at least have access to these results to help inform their decisions about how they can invest their time and resources to maintain brain health with aging.”
“A new report says that a combination of exercise, controlling blood pressure, and some form of brain training may drastically reduce mental decline.”
THIS IS NOT NEWS. We’ve known this for decades. There is scientific research to support this that is older than yesterday. You have to go outside the internet in the Untied States to find it because the pharmaceutical companies can’t patent it and make money off of it.
my father was extremely active physically and mentally and still got dementia in his 80s
he never had high bp either.
still very incomplete science
Just why is this ground breaking news? This information has been out there for years. Yes, years. As a matter of fact, Pat Summit, Lady Vols coach knew that before she died. Even before that, this information was out there. It’s not new.
This hardly a news flash. You can do everything right and still get Alzheimers and have all the risk factors in spades and not get AD…. exactly which scientists were shocked by old news?
The suggestion that this is a groundbreaking new discovery is ludicrous and untrue. There has long been strong evidence that improving diet; losing weight; fighting diabetes, depression, high blood pressure and sleep apnea; staying physically, socially and mentally active; and adding vitamins, herbs, and anti-oxidants can indeed help prevent the start and progression of Alzheimer’s. This information is available in many books, not only my own, by Dr. Mendelson, but also in books by Drs. Perlmutter, Amin, Small, and others. The use of medications to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s has been a bitter disappointment. The TV commercial for the “strongest” currently available FDA approved combination promises only “may slow down the progression of the disease for awhile.” That is not a ringing endorsement. The newest experimental drugs have uniformly failed. Thus, it is tragic that this type of information is not better acknowledged. At this point in time, these are the only effective methods. Nonetheless, this is old, albeit ignored, news.