Tag: AARP Bulletin

Why Are Rates of Alzheimer’s Disease in the US Dropping?

The most recent issue of AARP Bulletin (March, 2024) has a cover story on Alzheimer’s Disease. It reports that, for the first time in close to 20 years, new drugs are being approved for the treatment of the disease. Not only that, there may soon be better ways to diagnose it–including a simple blood test. The focus among researchers has shifted as well from only looking at the plaque which is found in the brain of those with Alzheimer’s Disease to also looking at neural connections and inflammation. The article is full of information and definitely worth a read.

What I found most compelling was the surprising news that Alzheimer’s Disease diagnoses are actually on the decline. From 2000 to 2016, the rate dropped 30% in the United States according to a 2022 Rand Corporation study! What accounts for this stunning trend?

As noted above, it is NOT because of any new drugs. Instead, researchers believe that the focus placed on heart health over the last 20 years has paid dividends in other areas such as dementia. According to another 2022 study–this one from the University of Minnesota–“41 percent of Alzheimer’s and related dementias were attributed to a dozen modifiable risk factors, of which high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity had the most impact.” In other words, we can change our behaviors and lower our odds of getting dementia.

A sidebar in the article pointed out a number of behaviors that can prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.

  1. Don’t smoke! Enough said.
  2. Keep blood pressure and blood sugar at healthy levels. Hypertension and Diabetes increase the risk of memory and thinking problems by 41%.
  3. Get regular exercise. Get moving and lower your risk for all dementias by 28% and Alzheimer’s by 45%.
  4. Eat more healthy foods. A diet limited in red meats, saturated fats, and added sugars that is also high in produce can lower your chances of getting AD and dementia by 48%. Berries and spinach are thought to protect brain cells.
  5. Take a multivitamin. Multivitamins cannot replace a good diet but they have been shown to have a beneficial effect on the brain.
  6. Care for your ears and eyes. A University of Toronto study in 2022 showed that hearing and/or vision loss increase the risk for cognitive problems by 20-50%. Hearing aids and vision care can help.
  7. Be attentive to mental health issues. Stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness over time can contribute to cognitive decline. Seek help for these conditions.
  8. Get quality, regular sleep. Sleeping is what allows our brains to clear out waste; sleeping problems can prevent that from occurring. Take appropriate steps to improve sleep.

Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias are frightening–to those who receive the diagnosis and for their loved ones. It is reassuring to see that progress is being made in research for diagnosis and treatment. What is most exciting to me is knowing that our own actions can have a positive impact. It is not just a crapshoot (or even based solely on genetics). We can (up to a point) help prevent cognitive decline as we age!

As the Pandemic (hopefully) Winds Down, It’s Time to Get Back to Healthy Habits

It's Never Too Late to Create Healthy Habits

During the pandemic, many of us found it difficult to maintain healthy habits. In particular, eating and exercise became real challenges. Instead of packing a lunch or grabbing something at work in the cafeteria or a nearby restaurant (where portion control is potentially easier to control), most of us were at home with cupboards and fridges filled with food beckoning us throughout the workday. With many gyms closed and limitations imposed by social distancing, it was tough to keep up the workout routine without the switch to a virtual platform; being stuck at home also meant less walking and other activities that kept us moving. Most of us can see the results looking at the scale or in the mirror.

Now that the pandemic seems to be in its waning stage, what is the plan? How do we get back to good health and good habits? These questions are especially compelling for older adults, many of whom have been vaccinated and are eager to get out there and start “living” again.

Leave it to AARP to produce another excellent Bulletin with two great articles. The first one entitled “60 Ways to Live Longer, Stronger, Better,” offers a myriad of concrete steps older adults can take to get back on track including ways to boost brain and heart health, get back in shape, improve diet and relationships, be more resilient, and fight loneliness. 60 seems like a lot of suggestions, but they are broken down in such a way that the list actually seems do-able. The second article, “Exercise Al Fresco” is not yet available on-line, but is in print; it offers suggestions for ways to take advantage of fitness opportunities in the great outdoors. It was heartening to see that the article followed up on a blog post I wrote just four days ago entitled “Adult Playground?” That post discussed what is apparently a growing trend: playgrounds designed for older adults aimed at improving fitness; a sidebar in the article highlights AARP’s role in supporting this initiative.

The weather is improving. There are more and more opportunities (with increased vaccinations as well) to get back on track. 2020 was a disaster health-wise for so many of us; let’s make 2021 the year we recover and excel. Let’s make a plan to eat better, exercise, hydrate, and get plenty of rest. Building healthy habits leads to better outcomes–not just physically, but in so many other ways as well.