Alzheimer’s disease is a frustrating topic to many, but this is particularly the case for all those approaching or passed the age of sixty-five. While Alzheimer’s can strike younger adults, the vast majority of cases occur in people at or well beyond 65 years. This of course is of great concern to health professionals who know that our global population is rapidly aging.
Today, approximately 7% of the world’s population is age 65 or older. That number will double over the next 30 years, expected to hit 14% by the year 2040. That’s 1.3 billion senior citizens.
Today there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s and the prevalence of the disease makes it particularly worrisome to seniors. Consider some of these simple facts:
More than five million Americans today live with Alzheimer’s disease. One out of every eight people 65 and older has the disease. And for those over 85, this number jumps to almost one out of every two. Beginning in 2011, the first of the baby boom generation (born 1946 to 1964) will turn 65, and as this demographic tsunami hits, the number of Alzheimer’s cases is almost certain to skyrocket.
As we search for a cure, delay and prevention of this dreaded disease becomes ever more important. Into that arena comes the growing number of studies that show a powerful connection between age, excercise, and brain function.
In 2006, a University of Washington study found that regular exercise reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by up to 40%.
The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Eric Larson, said that even walking for 15 minutes three times a week was enough to cut the risk. The study concluded that not only did regular exercise cut the risk of dementia, the results suggested it might also help to delay progression of the condition in people who begin to develop symptoms.
The University of Washington study followed 1,740 people aged 65 and older over a six-year period. At the start of the study none showed signs of dementia. After six years, 158 participants had developed dementia, of which 107 had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
People who exercised three or more times a week had a 30% to 40% lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who exercised fewer than three times per week.
Dr Larson suggested that exercise may improve brain function by boosting blood flow to areas of the brain used for memory. He said: “Earlier research has shown that poor blood flow can damage these parts of the brain. So one theory is that exercise may prevent damage and might even help repair these areas by increasing blood flow. Even if you’re 75 and have never exercised before, you can still benefit by starting to exercise now.”
In the rapidly changing world of today’s mass media, this important study, like so many others, has gotten lost in the shuffle. Yet new studies pop up regularly in support of this 2006 research.
The most recent example of this was reported just last month when researchers at Rush University Medical Center, found that seniors with weaker muscles appear to have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment, as well as a more rapid rate of cognitive decline, Their study, published in the November 9, 2009 issue of Archives of Neurology, explained that “impaired muscle strength precedes the development of cognitive impairment in aging, and may be an early clinical marker.”
The Rush researchers went on to state that the cause and effect of impaired muscle strength still needed further study. But at this point they concluded, “The findings suggest that assessment of muscle strength may be a useful clinical tool for early identification of individuals at risk for cognitive problems, who might benefit most from medical or other interventions.”
Most of us recognize that we have limited life spans. But spending our final years in an Alzheimer’s haze is not how we would want to see our lives end. Regular fitness training is not a cure for this disease, but may well be an important factor in delaying its onset. To that end alone, regular light exercise is worth pursuing by individuals, and worthy of further study. After all, until we have a cure, prevention is our best alternative.
Have you ever considered mechanical injury due to hyponatremia induced osmotic swelling of the brain? A study of former U.S. football players shows a 19-fold higher risk of Alzheimer’s, strongly suggesting that repeated mechanical injury to the brain is the underlying cause. Osmotic swelling can stretch internal cell components such that when the cells relax, they don’t quite come back to their original form. Repeated episodes (possibly daily) over long periods can cause cumulative cell damage and eventually cell death. This type of injury could result in the inflammation that has been associated with beta-amyloid plaque formation. The incidence of hyponatremia in the health elderly has been estimated at 7% and among elderly in nursing homes it has been report as high as 15-18%. One way hyponatremia results is from a decreased ability of the kidneys to reabsorb sodium with age. The high salt diet of Asians and Indians may decrease the risk of hyponatremia and thus explain their lower incidence of Alzheimer’s. The low sodium recommendation by modern Western medicine to reduce hypertension may increase the risk of hyponatremia. The lack of sleep has been reported as a possible risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Sodium levels influence the quality and quantity of sleep; lower levels worsen sleep. Low testosterone levels have been linked to Alzheimer’s. Low testosterone is also responsible for low sodium reabsorption by the kidneys. Bipolar depression and Schizophrenia have also been linked to Alzheimer’s. Hyponatremia has a 10-fold higher incidence among these patients when compared to all others upon hospital admission. Gingivitis has been linked to Alzheimer’s. Salt is well known for its antibiotic properties. A diet high in salt will decrease oral bacteria while it provides a lower risk of hyponatremia. Alzheimer’s has been linked to atrial fibrillation. Electrolyte imbalance is a know cause of atrial fibrillation. Recently, an inverse relationship between cancer and Alzheimer’s has been found. This may explain why the Japanese have a higher rate of stomach cancer coincident with a lower rate of Alzheimer’s. It is widely believed that their high salt diet is somehow responsible for their higher rate of stomach cancer.
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