HEALTH & WELLNESS: Alzheimer’s risk cut in half by exercising for an hour a week, one-third of cases avoidable, U.K. study suggests

Alzheimer’s risk cut in half by exercising for an hour a week, one-third of cases avoidable, U.K. study suggests

Laura Donnelly, The Daily Telegraph, National Post Wire Services | July 14, 2014 | Last Updated: Jul 14 12:13 PM ET
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Chris Young/The Canadian Press filesExercise may be the single biggest thing that older people can do to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, since getting regular physical activity, even in small amounts, can help stave off a laundry list of other risk factors.

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BIGGEST LIFESTYLE RISK FACTORS FOR ALZHEIMER'S

1. Physical inactivity
2. Depression
3. Midlife hypertension
4. Midlife obesity
5. Smoking
6. Low educational attainment
7. Diabetes

Just one hour of exercise a week can halve the chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease, claims a study that ranks the seven lifestyle threats driving the rising levels of dementia.

The research by Cambridge University says one in three cases of the condition could be prevented by increased activity levels, a cut in smoking and tackling health problems such as obesity and diabetes. The study, published in the Lancet Neurology Monday, is the first to quantify the combined impact of lifestyle factors influencing dementia.

It identifies exercise as the most significant protection against the condition.

Those who failed to do three 20-minute bursts of vigorous exercise a week, such as jogging or football, or five 30-minute sessions of moderate activity, such as walking, were 82 per cent more likely to go on to develop dementia.

Obesity in midlife increased the risks of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease by 60%, while high blood pressure raised the threat by 61%, the analysis found.

The study follows growing evidence that efforts to maintain a healthy heart also protect against dementia.Smoking was found to increase dementia risks by 59%, while those with diabetes were 46% more likely to develop dementia.

Reduced blood flow to the heart, caused by a poor diet or lack of exercise, can reduce blood flow to the brain.

The new research led by Cambridge University examined almost a decade of studies on each of the risk factors for dementia, using new models to calculate the overall proportion of dementia that could be prevented.

Other factors found to sharply increase the risk of dementia included depression and lower levels of educational attainment, the study found.

The research published Monday is the first to conclude that one in three cases of dementia could be avoided by changes in lifestyle.

Carol Brayne, the study’s lead author and a professor from Cambridge University, said: “Although there is no single way to prevent dementia, we may be able to take steps to reduce our risk of developing dementia at older ages.”

HEALTH ALERT: High Blood Pressure Affects Memory in Old Age

High Blood Pressure Affects Memory in Old Age

Rachel Adams

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New research suggests that high blood pressure in middle age plays a critical role in whether blood pressure in old age may affect memory and thinking.

The study found that the association of blood pressure in old age to brain measures depended on a history of blood pressure in middle age. High blood pressure is a serious condition, and one that plagues a large number of the population. Often times, high blood pressure is the result of too much sodium in the diet.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, found higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure were associated with increased risk of brain lesions and tiny brain bleeds. This was most noticeable in people without a history of high blood pressure in middle age. For example, people with no history of high blood pressure in middle age who had high diastolic blood pressure in old age were 50 percent more likely to have severe brain lesions than people with low diastolic blood pressure in old age.

However, in people with a history of high blood pressure in middle age, lower diastolic blood pressure in older age was associated with smaller total brain and gray matter volumes. This finding was reflected in memory and thinking performance measures as well. In people with high blood pressure in middle age, lower diastolic blood pressure was associated with 10 percent lower memory scores.

“Older people without a history of high blood pressure but who currently have high blood pressure are at an increased risk for brain lesions, suggesting that lowering of blood pressure in these participants might be beneficial. On the other hand, older people with a history of high blood pressure but who currently have lower blood pressure might have more extensive organ damage and are at risk of brain shrinkage and memory and thinking problems,” said study author Lenore J. Launer, Ph.D., of the National Institute on Aging, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Excess sodium intake can be a key contributing factor to high blood pressure, making sodium reduction a key focus in the food and beverage industry. In fact, the average American consumes about 50 percent more sodium than recommended in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Reducing sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day could reduce hypertension by as many as 11 million cases annually, according to CDC.

However, sodium reduction is no easy feat. Today’s U.S. food supply has 35 percent more sodium per person than it did in the early 1900s, based on Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) data. This is largely attributed to the widespread availability of processed and restaurant foods, which contribute 77 percent of sodium to the American diet.

While consumers are growing more aware of the implications that come with consuming too much salt, many don’t address these concerns through shopping behaviors, or by purchasing less processed foods. The reality is that a continued focus on reducing sodium in processed foods needs to be the top priority. To read more about sodium-reduction efforts, download this free FoodTech Toolbox Report
.

Sources:

• Newswise: How High Blood Pressure in Middle Age May Affect Memory in Old Age

HEALTH ALERT: SPEARMINT, ROSEMARY MAY HINDER ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

SPEARMINT, ROSEMARY MAY HINDER ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Published November 15, 2013 in Food Product Design

Posted in News, Brain Health, Herb, Antioxidant, Healthy, Healthy Foods, Nutrition, Diet, Science & Research, Extracts

ST. LOUIS—Enhanced extracts made from special antioxidants in spearmint and rosemary improve learning and memory, which may prove beneficial to reducing Alzheimer's disease risk, according to a study presented at Neuroscience 2013, Nov. 9-13.

Researchers at Saint Louis University tested a novel antioxidant-based ingredient made from spearmint extract and two different doses of a similar antioxidant made from rosemary extract on mice that have age-related cognitive decline.

Results concluded the higher-dose rosemary extract compound was the most powerful in improving memory and learning in three tested behaviors. The lower-dose rosemary extract improved memory in two of the behavioral tests, as did the compound made from spearmint extract.

"We found that these proprietary compounds reduce deficits caused by mild cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to Alzheimer's disease," said Susan Farr, Ph.D., research professor, geriatrics, Saint Louis University.

Further, there were signs of reduced oxidative stress, which is considered a hallmark of age-related decline, in the part of the brain that controls learning and memory.

"Our research suggests these extracts made from herbs might have beneficial effects on altering the course of age-associated cognitive decline," Farr said.

Additional research has shown a healthy diet with sufficient amounts of vitamin C and vitamin D may also help to ward off Alzheimer's disease.

Sources:

• Saint Louis University: Can Certain Herbs Stave Off Alzheimer’s Disease?

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