Preventing Alzheimer's Disease: Expert Provides Tips

Doing totally new activities makes the brain's circuits light up in all different areas, helping to ward off Alzheimer's Disease, stated a professor and director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Saint Louis University School of Medicine to attendees of a West St. Louis County Rotary Club special luncheon held Nov. 29 at . The nearly 60 attendees also got the chance to ask specific questions.

As the guest speaker, George Grossberg, M.D., grouped information about dementia and Alzheimer's Disease into several helpful categories. His background in this medical area is extensive. (See prior article: )

Grossberg said preserving brain function is a key component in all the mental conditions related to aging.

He said for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease at ages 40, 50 or 60, it typically is familiarial Alzheimer's as a hereditary issue. "This is rare, maybe 5 percent of the cases."

"The vast majority of Americans get Alzheimer's Disease when in their 70s, 80s or 90s," Grossberg said during his presentation.

Unlike the , some modifable risk factors include controlling:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Hyperlipidemia
• Smoking
• Alcohol intake

Grossberg said good, consistent control of known medical conditions increases the odds in people's favor of helping any potential mental conditions commonly seen in older ages. "Keeping your lipid profile as stable as possible throughout your life, combined with watching your diet and medications, does help in addressing Alzheimer's," he said.

He said the probable, modifiable risk factors include:

• Depression, due to half of patients with depression developing Alzheimer's Disease within five years
• Metabolic syndrome
• Trace minerals, such as aluminum, copper and zinc
• Chemical and environmental exposure, as in the potential effects of inhalants and lead to the body's central nervous system

He communicated other probable, modifiable risk factors as:

• Head traumas, citing examples of U.S. athletes in their 40s or 50s who are developing Alzheimer's Disease, especially football players
• Elevated homocysteine
• Vitamins B6, B12 and folate deficiencies, stating that 50 percent of Parkinson's Disease patients who are eight to 10 years into the condition develop dimentia changes)
• Chronic kidney disease

He said orthopedic doctors and neuro-surgeons now recommend young soccer players wear helmets, due to subjecting themselves to repetitive head trauma at such early ages.

MENTAL ACTIVITIES THAT HELP WARD OFF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE:

1. Learn something new, such as a musical instrument, language or new hobby). Grossberg said the key is that it should be some activity that truly requires new learning, not practicing or maintaining something that's already been done in someone's life.
2. Play memory games to improve or train memory.
3. Practice using opposite hand for something typically done with the dominant hand.
4. Read, especially challenging materials.
5. Do crossword puzzles, which are uniquely good for brains.

POSSIBLE HELPFUL AGENTS TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE:

• Antioxidant vitamins
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) therapy, such as Motrin
• Fish and omega-3 fatty acids
• Mediterrean diet
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Vitamins B6, B12 and folate
• Moderate alcohol consumption
• Some caffeine, citing that it might play a protective role in the brain as long as not overdone with 10 cups a day
• Hormone therapy, which is not routinely recommended due to certain controversies

Grossberg told luncheon guests that people who smoke or use tobacco products are 1.7 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's Disease or related mental conditions.

He also said the view of medical researchers has changed recently about the likely effect of alcohol on Alzheimer's Disease. "We're not anti-alcohol in medical circles like we used to be," he said. "Now it's considered to be OK for most people to have alcohol in moderation, meaning one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men."

But Grossberg said he does not believe it's a good idea for someone who has not been drinking during their younger years to suddenly start drinking later in life. "When alcohol is overdone, the toxic effects can outweigh the potential protective effects. Alcohol also can lead to memory cognitive problems, making Alzheimer's worse."

Body mass index, obesity and lack of exercise, in general, has been found to affect Alzheimer's Disease, he said. "We don't know a lot about early life exposures, though."

"We're learning that what's good for the heart is good for the brain," said Grossberg. "Alzheimer's seems to be caused by a variety of underlying pathological processes."