Tricks to Delay Alzheimer's

By Catherine Censor

Had a "senior moment" recently? Forgetting things like where you left your keys or the name of your colleague's youngest child? Well, the good news is that experiences like these are perfectly normal and no, they don't mean you're getting Alzheimer's. "The signs of early Alzheimer's are typically noticed by other people," explains Lisa D. Ravdin, Ph.D., Director, Cornell Neuropsychology Service, Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York. "Early Alzheimer's is marked by repetitive speech, forgetting important events, an inability to manage medications, and difficulty finding one's way around familiar places (like getting lost on the way home from the supermarket). If you think you have it, you probably don't."

The bad news, says Dr. Ravdin, is that you can expect more of these kinds of episodes with the passing years. "Unfortunately, a decrease in brain function is inevitable as we age," she explains. "Beginning in our 30s, there are changes in the structure of the brain such as decreased brain weight and volume and loss of large neurons that result in changes in thinking ability and memory."

If physical changes to the brain are inevitable, and no known agents prevent Alzheimer's disease, is there anything that we can do to keep our wits? Thankfully, the answer is "yes, plenty" -- even when it comes to Alzheimer's, a disease whose relentless progress can, even with state-of-the-art treatment, only be delayed, not halted. "The goal is to delay the onset of symptoms," Ravdin says. "Lifestyle changes and enhanced thinking abilities can push back the development of the disease by a few years, resulting in a lower prevalence of the disease as well as decreased economic burden, such as cost of nursing home placement or lost wages for those forced to leave the workforce to care for a loved one." "There's plenty of evidence that lifestyle choices make a difference," says Ravdin, "mentally and physically stimulating activities such as sports, education, card games, and puzzles build cognitive reserves that protect us from changes in thinking abilities that result from aging or disease." In other words, you can build a buffer against aging and disease so that it takes a greater insult and a longer period of time to see damage. And it's never too late or too early. "Adults of all ages involved in mental and physical activities do better on cognitive tests," Ravdin says.

While you've probably read that learning a new language or doing crossword puzzles will help you "stay sharp" as you age, Ravdin says that surprisingly, just about any activity will do the trick. "You can get benefits from watching TV as long as the program is stimulating and you're engaged in it," she says. "It just has to be challenging without being frustrating and most important, you have to enjoy it. Learning a new language might be great mental stimulation but if it frustrates you or you don't enjoy it, it won't do you any good."

Since just about any activity will do the trick, you might wonder whether making an effort is really necessary. After all, aren't we continually involved in activities that challenge the brain? From figuring out a new cell phone to making dinner from a new recipe, aren't we continually pushing our brains down new paths? Well, yes -- if you're young and active. According to Ravdin, "people's worlds become smaller as they age and they become less engaged in outside life. They lose friends, lose family, and they're not going to work every day. For these people, keeping mentally active requires effort."

And if you want to stay mentally fit, you'd better stay physically fit as well. "If it's good for the heart, it's good for the brain," says Ravdin. "What we thought of as risk factors for cardiovascular disease turn out to be risk factors for cognitive decline as well." Aerobic exercise and a diet rich in antioxidants, such as those found in brightly colored fruits, can protect your brain from some of the cellular damage associated with cognitive disorders.

So if you're determined to stay sharp, stay active in body and mind. You might not be able to stop the aging process, but you can certainly slow it down.