By Kirsten Whittaker
When looking at possible ways to prevent alzheimers earlier research has suggested a link between being active and keeping your brain healthy as you get older. And we also know that exercise offers lots of health benefits that older adults truly need. New research finds that elderly subjects who are more active, even if it's simple pottering around the house or working in the garden, have a lower chance of developing Alzheimer's disease than seniors who aren't as active, who sit more. Now this isn't to say being active reduces the risk of such a devastating disease, the truth is experts aren't sure if early stages of disease have people slowing down, being more sedentary than they used to be.
What's more, it's important to understand that we're not talking activity that works up a sweat here... but rather just moving around doing day-to-day chores might be enough to make a difference in brain health.
This latest research included 716 subjects (602 females) participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project who were dementia free, at an average age of 82 when the study started. Their daily activity was monitored for up to ten days with a movement measurement device known as an actigraph. It's a non-obtrusive, watch-sized instrument that can be worn 24-7.
The team of researchers then watched the study participants for signs of future disease. Over an average 4 years of follow up, 71 of the subjects developed measurable signs of devastating Alzheimer's disease. The researchers looked back at the statistics to see where the risk of disease fell based on the activity of the subjects. The most active showed an 8% risk of having signs of Alzheimer's, while the risk increased to 18% for those who had been least active.
Of course the study did contain far larger numbers of women than men, so the results may not be applicable to everyone. What's more the actigraph the subjects wore isn't able to distinguish between different activities.
While no one can say that being active and better thinking are related, the findings do encourage seniors (all of us in fact) to an active lifestyle, even in your older years. Even if you can't "exercise" as you used to... getting up for any kind of movement is going to be beneficial to your body.
Alzheimer's is a disease that affects 5.4 million Americans and is the most common form of dementia. This disease starts slowly; usually (but not always) after age 60, with unnoticed changes taking place in the parts of the brain that manage thought, memory and language. A person might not be able to recall an event or a name they know. Over time the symptoms get worse, with patients being unable to do everyday tasks until they need round the clock care and attention.
By the year 2030, estimates predict American adults over 65 years old will double - that's 80 million people. All at higher risk of devastating, debilitating Alzheimer's disease. Given these numbers, the study authors feel the findings have pretty significant implications for public health. An epidemic may well be in the works... slowly but steadily approaching as more and more of us age. Not only will a rising numbers suffering with Alzheimer's impact countless family members and friends of patients, but also a healthcare system understaffed and struggling to cope. Meaning that finding new ways to prevent alzheimer's disease will become more and more important.
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