Active Mind May Delay Alzheimers
Funding for Alzheimer's Disease is at an all time high. Since 2017, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has increased their available resources by over 750 million dollars. This boost has contributed to a wave of discoveries that shed light particularly on how we and our loved ones can prepare for and manage our personal circumstances regarding Alzheimer’s. In recent weeks, a study done by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago concluded that consistent and conscious brain activity contributed to an up to 5 year delay in Alzheimer’s Disease among aging patients. These activities included:
Reading
Letter Writing
Board Games
Puzzles
About these activities, lead researcher Robert Wilson noted "The key element is that you're processing information… Reading is certainly important, but anything that stimulates the mind and is challenging to you intellectually can be helpful."
The Study was carried out on 2000 people with an average age of 80 who at the time had not yet been diagnosed with dementia. After interviewing these individuals about their cognitive lifestyles, including an acuity test, Wilson and his fellow researchers followed their research participants for several years, continuing to check in and reassess cognitive conditions. Over the follow-up period, WIlson and his researchers found that those who had the highest levels of mental activity developed dementia at 94. Those with the lowest levels developed dementia at 89.
Wilson cautions that increased brain activity is not a cure all answer to Alzheimers but instead points towards an emerging connection between lifestyle and mental acuity later in life.
Alzheimer's Disease can seem like a cold inevitability for many, and researchers like Robert WIlson can help us to understand that this inevitability can in fact be mitigated by promoting a healthy and mentally invigorating lifestyle. Taking time yourself and with loved ones to consider your lifestyle is a great place to start--especially if you are looking to make changes or continue habits you have built over a lifetime.
The team at Hillsborough Wills & Trusts encourages your long-term efforts to take care of yourself and has the expertise to help you Build Your Circle of Security.
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