It’s good news. A study shows a significant improvement in the cognitive scores and quality of life of people at risk of dementia who benefited from personalized support targeting the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.
This will also interest you
(ON VIDEO) Interview: why do we age? Every day, our body and our cells age. What are the physiological processes involved in…
A new American study shows the benefit of personalized interventions in mattermatter health and lifestyle measures to delay or prevent memory loss in elderly people at increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Modifiable risk factors are responsible for 30 to 40% of cases of dementia and researchers wanted to know the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing these risks.
The two-year randomized clinical trial compared dementia risk factors, cognitive scores and quality of life in 172 people aged 70 to 89 who were at high risk of dementia. Participants had at least two of eight risk factors for dementia, such as physical inactivity,hypertensionhypertension or uncontrolled diabetes, insufficient sleep, social isolation or even smoking. Half of them benefited from personalized support with nurses and health coaches to reduce these risk factors. The other group received simple health education.
Act on modifiable risk factors
After two years, the 82 participants assigned to the intervention showed 74% greater improvements in cognitive score than the 90 participants in the control group. The results published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine indicate improved mental functions in people who maintain an active lifestyle and engage in social interactions. In the future, we could therefore consider acting on these modifiable risk factors to prevent dementia in older people who are at risk.
Dementia: our lifestyle could protect us from it
Article from Destination santé, published on December 17, 2013
While forecasts predict a 3-fold increase in cases of Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease in the world in the coming decades, others are more optimistic. American researchers note a drop in the frequency of dementia in developed countries, perhaps due to the level of education, certain care and activity physicalphysical.
However, the figures all seem to point in the same direction. And not in a good way. Unfortunately, with the aging of the world’s population,epidemicepidemic of dementia is growing. L’World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization (WHO) puts forward worrying figures, estimating that the number of cases will triple by 2050! However, American researchers want to be more reassuring and think that theimpactimpact dementia will decrease. Their findings are published in the journal New England Journal of Medicine.
“Of course, the world’s population is aging, and we are seeing a higher number of cases of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. »says Eric Larson, director of Group Health Research Institute in Seattle (United States). “However, more and more patients are developing these pathologiespathologies at a very old age, which means that more people live longer without suffering from dementia. » In other words, the doctor believes that people will be affected by these diseases later.
Sport against dementia?
Already in 2008, Kenneth Langa, a researcher at the University of Michigan, and Eric Larson published the first study suggesting a decline in the incidence of dementia in the United States. They explained it in particular by different factors, such as a better level of education and improvements in public health and lifestyle. Other works have also reached similar conclusions.
“We are delighted to see that an increasing number of studies show a significant reduction in the risk of dementia”, explains Kenneth Langa. According to doctors, the most striking example is the impact of physical activity on mental health. Practicing sport regularly reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular problems and also protects against dementia. The team had also shown that the rate of sugarsugar in the blood influenced the development of neurodegenerative pathologies.
Their analysis therefore suggests that the population better respects the hygiene rules recommended by health authorities, such as practicing sport regularly and having a balanced diet, which should limit the risks of dementia. The fact remains that obesity is a major public health scourge which wreaks many havoc and must continue to be taken very seriously.
