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UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER'S IN OLDER ADULTS
account_circle Anita Natu 09-Sep-2022 chat_bubble 0 Comments person_add 0 Shares
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account_circle Anita Natu 09-Sep-2022
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Videos:
1. Event on “Understanding Alzheimer’s” held on Dec 9, 2022. Speaker: Rtn Wg Cdr D P Sabharwal, Founder Chairman of Alzheimer-Dementia Rotary Action Group- India
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTaCQ3JLypc
2. Event on “How to Defeat an Ageing Brain &
Promote Brain Health” held on September 16, 2022.
Speakers:
Dr Prem Narasimhan, Chief Consultant Geriatric Medicine, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai
Mr. Sailesh Mishra, Social Entrepreneur & Mentor; Founder, Silver Innings Group
Click on link below to watch video:
Article
What happens to our brains as we grow older?
Why do we have trouble remembering names? And if we are constantly forgetting things, do we have Alzheimer’s? Can we do anything to improve our brain health? Can we stop its deterioration?
As our body ages, so does our brain and these are some of the changes that might occur:
· Certain parts of the brain shrink, especially those important to learning and other complex mental activities.
· In certain brain regions, communication between neurons (nerve cells) may not be as effective.
· Blood flow in the brain may decrease.
· Inflammation, which occurs when the body responds to an injury or disease, may increase
As we age, our brains change, but Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, up to 40% of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed. It helps to understand what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to brain health.
Normal brain aging may mean slower processing speeds and more trouble multitasking, but routine memory, skills, and knowledge are stable and may even improve with age. It’s normal to occasionally forget recent events such as where you put your keys or the name of the person you just met.
Some functions like memory, processing speed, and spatial awareness deteriorate as we age, but other skills like verbal abilities and abstract reasoning actually improve. There is growing evidence that the brain maintains the ability to change and adapt so that people can manage new challenges and tasks as they age.
What is the difference between an ageing brain and one that has Alzheimer's?
As the brain ages, neurons begin to die, and the cells also produce a compound called amyloid-beta. Amyloid beta is what is typically associated with Alzheimer's. It can also be found in the brain of an individual who is aging. If there are amyloid-beta plaques (prions) in the brain, it can be a sign of Alzheimer's disease. And when there are signs of plaque, but no prions, it may be a sign of normal aging.
What is the Difference between Dementia and Alzheimer's?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they actually have different meanings. Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an umbrella term that describes a wide range of symptoms. These symptoms affect people's ability to perform everyday activities on their own. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, but it's not the only one. There are many different types and causes of dementia.
Is Dementia or Alzheimer’s hereditary?
The majority of dementia is not inherited by children and grandchildren. In rarer types of dementia there may be a strong genetic link, but these are only a tiny proportion of overall cases of dementia.
The most important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is age. Because Alzheimer's disease is so common in people in their late 70s and 80s, having a parent or grandparent with Alzheimer's disease at this age does not change your risk compared to the rest of the population.
However, if somebody has developed Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier age (for example, less than 60 years-old) there is a greater chance that it may be a type of Alzheimer’s disease that can be passed on.
What are the signs of Dementia?
People with dementia have symptoms of cognitive decline that interfere with daily life—including disruptions in language, memory, attention, recognition, problem solving, and decision-making. Signs to watch for include:
· Not being able to complete tasks without help.
· Trouble naming items or close family members.
· Forgetting the function of items.
· Repeating questions.
· Taking much longer to complete normal tasks.
· Misplacing items often.
· Being unable to retrace steps and getting lost.
What can we expect from a normal ageing brain?
As we age, our cognition – mental processes – naturally declines. The most notable change may be cognitive slowing, with one study showing that a 20-year-old is 75% faster than a 75-year-old at substituting symbols for numbers. With regards to language, vocabulary and verbal skills remain largely unchanged, but the ability to find a particular word can decline. Memories formed many years ago remain quite stable, but forming new memories can be difficult, and working memory (for example recalling a phone number to dial it) is particularly affected. The ability to focus on a single task is largely unchanged but there is increased difficulty with multitasking or switching attention.
These changes reveal a pattern: although our general knowledge and ‘crystallised intelligence’ (the ability to use skills and knowledge) are mostly unaffected, our fluid intelligence (the ability to think on the fly and solve new problems) suffers.
How can we promote Brain Health?
However, there is good news - studies show that healthy behaviour, which can prevent some kinds of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease may also reduce your risk for cognitive decline. Although age, genetics, and family history cannot be changed, addressing certain risk factors may prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.
· Quit smoking - it may help maintain brain health and can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.
· Maintain a healthy blood pressure level.
· Physical activity can improve thinking, reduce risk of depression and anxiety and help you sleep better. Learning to dance is a fun way to exercise
· Maintain a healthy weight – eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
· Get enough sleep.
· Stay engaged. There are many ways for senior citizens to get involved in their community. Volunteering can be a satisfying activity.
· Manage blood sugar. Learn how to manage your blood sugar especially if you have diabetes.
· Play brain games that stimulate different cognitive functions, such as executive function and processing speed. Exercise your brain by doing crossword & sudoku puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, online brain and video games, playing card games like bridge, chess and bingo.
· Develop a hobby or learn a new language.
Are there any foods that can improve brain power?
Research shows that the best brain foods are the same ones that protect your heart and blood vessels, including the following:
· Green, leafy vegetables: such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene. Research suggests these plant-based foods may help slow cognitive decline.
· Fatty fish: are abundant sources of omega-3 fatty acids, healthy unsaturated fats that have been linked to lower blood levels of beta-amyloid—the protein that forms damaging clumps in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Try to eat fish at least twice a week, but choose varieties that are low in mercury, such as salmon, cod, canned light tuna, and pollack. If you're not a fan of fish, ask your doctor about taking an omega-3 supplement, or choose terrestrial omega-3 sources such as flaxseeds, avocados, and walnuts.
· Berries: Flavonoids, the natural plant pigments that give berries their brilliant hues, also help improve memory.
· Tea and coffee: The caffeine in your morning cup of coffee or tea might offer more than just a short-term concentration boost. Caffeine might also help solidify new memories, according to research.
· Walnuts: Nuts are excellent sources of protein and healthy fats, and one type of nut in particular might also improve memory. Walnuts are high in a type of omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Diets rich in ALA and other omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to lower blood pressure and cleaner arteries. That's good for both the heart and brain.
Forgetting names and words is a normal part of ageing, as is decreased attention, or a decreased ability to multitask. But living a healthy life both physically and mentally may be the best defense against the changes of an ageing brain.
For Tips for Caregivers of People with Dementia, click on link below:
https://vayah-vikas.org/article-info/Tips-for-Caregivers-&-Families-of-People-with-Dementia/MzE1
- Edited and compiled by Anita Natu
Sources:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-aging-brain-affects-thinking
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/dementia-not-normal-aging.html
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/is-dementia-hereditary
https://www.forbes.com/health/healthy-aging/brain-exercises/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/foods-linked-to-better-brainpower