Chapter 8

Medical Update: Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is making inroads against an aging society. The rate of Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s more than tripled during the 1990’s and the number of sufferers are projected to balloon from the current 4.5 million to 16 million by 2050. At 85, the chance of Alzheimer’s is almost 50%, at the present time the projected life expectancy for baby boomers is 85 and increasing.

At the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders held in Philadelphia, PA, July 2004, Dr. William Thies,vicepresident for medical and scientific affairs, stated that researchers have made strides in learning about the causes, possible therapies, and new ways of treating and preventing the disease. Some of the reported findings include:

  • Risk factors for heart disease may also lead to dementia. Dr. Mila Kevipelto (Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden) found that being overweight or obese in one’s 50’s increases the risk for Alzheimer’s. Just as dangerous is high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
  • Scientists showed for the first time that a drug (Donepezil) could slow the deterioration from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to full-fledged Alzheimer’s. MCI is often a transitional stage between early aging and Alzheimer's disease. Patients diagnosed with MCI usually have memory problems worse than most people of the same age but do not suffer from dementia and can carry out normal daily activities. Many patients with MCI develop Alzheimer’s, however not all people with MCI develop the disease. At this time Donepezil has shown only a modest effect on Alzheimer’s.
  • Investigator, Dr. Laura Fratiglioni at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, studied 776 men and women aged 75 and older. She followed the participants for six years, collecting data on daily activities both mental, such as reading or doing puzzles, and social, such as visiting. She states that those who kept their minds active while maintaining an active social life reduced their risk of Alzheimer’s by about 30%.
  • In another lifestyle study, Jae Lee Kang, ScD, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, finds women who eat more green leafy vegetables or cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, spinach, and broccoli push back the onset of Alzheimer’s by about one to two years.

These lifestyle studies recommendations from the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders convey the message to that in order to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease you should eat well, stay active, and be fit.

References:

Dembner, A. (2004, July 19). Drug found to delay alzheimer’s. Boston Globe.

Retrieved from

Fischman, J. (2004, August 2). Vanishing mids: New research is helping alzheimer’s

patients cope—and hope. US News. Retrieved August 2, 2004 from

Peck, P. (2004, July 19). Diet, activity may help prevent alzheimer’s. WebMD Health.

Retrieved July 19, 2004 from