In the fast-paced world we live in, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. For 5 million elderly Americans, it is made even easier by Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and potentially fatal disorder that destroys brain cells. This occurs as patients develop problems with memory, thinking and behavior, severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies, or their social life. Some new studies show that you might be able to ward off this terrible disorder.
A study published in the journal Neurology, found that increased levels of leisure activities were associated with decreased chances of developing Alzheimer’s. This study was conducted on over 1,700 people in an adult retirement community. It assessed the residents’ participation in 13 different leisure activities including: hobbies, walking, visiting friends or relatives, reading, going to entertainment events and playing games.
The study considered “low activity” to be participation in 6 or less activities, while participation in more than 6 activities was considered “high activity.” Six years after the initial survey, dementia risk was decreased by 38% in those participants with high activity levels as compared to those participants with low activity levels.
The author of this study was influenced by a similar study done on animalswhich had similar results. He went on to conclude that “Exposure to an enrichedenvironment, defined as a combination of more opportunities for physical activity,learning, and social interaction, produces not only a host of structural andfunctional changes in the brain but also influences the rate of neurogenesis inadult and senescent animal models.”
This means that constant mental stimulation will keep our brain in are generative state where we are constantly maintaining and remodeling our brain cells’ functions.
Another article of interest on the topic of Alzheimer’s showed a higher risk of Alzheimer’s for those people with advanced cases of osteoporosis. This may be linked to the same reasoning for the first article mentioned. As seniors stay active they not only keep their brain stimulated, but they also remain more physically active. This physical activity is crucial to maintaining adequate bone density and therefore these two studies support each other’s findings.
Basically, it is thought that the old adage of “if you don’t use, it you loose it,” may be true with regards to our brain. As seniors become more sedentary they are less likely keep themselves physically or mentally stimulated. With this loss of stimulation, our body begins to deteriorate at a higher speed. Staying active will not only add years to your life, but it appears that it will also add life to your years.