New Hope for Alzheimer's Disease
It starts innocuously with forgetfulness, absent-mindedness,
followed by confusion, an inability to learn, and impaired
judgment. Progressing insidiously to anxiety, hallucinations,
and a loss of coordination, Alzheimer's disease robs people of
their dignity and families of loved ones. Trailing cancer and
coronary heart disease as the third leading cause of death,
Alzheimer's afflicts 1 in 10 Americans, or an estimated 4.5
million across the country.
The cutting edge of Alzheimer's research
What makes one person age successfully and another develop
Alzheimer's? We know that genetics can't account for all victims
of this disease. For example, if one identical twin gets
Alzheimer's, there's no guarantee the other twin will (although
their risk is increased). Can lifestyle, diet and exercise help
protect one from Alzheimer's or at least delay its onset? How
much slowing of memory is normal in the elderly and how does
this differ from Alzheimer's?
Heralding new hope in the fight against Alzheimer's, today's
doctors aim to answer these and other questions as they continue
to make tremendous strides in groundbreaking research. Current
research is being conducted at several levels--from scientific
studies that examine the basic molecular changes in mice to
human studies that look into all aspects of Alzheimer's.
From Mice to Mankind
Recent research with mice has identified a trigger protein at
the molecular level that marks the onset of Alzheimer's. This
finding has important and useful implications for developing
drugs that can target and possibly halt the disease. There is
also some evidence to suggest that aerobic exercise in humans
may have an effect on lowering the amounts of the trigger
protein in the brain.
Among the many goals is to uncover the connection between loss
of cognitive function and age. Doctors are also looking into the
mechanisms causing Alzheimer's disease and developing pioneering
treatments.
Successful Agers
Doctors are trying to determine what activities, foods, hobbies,
exercise, and medications separate "successful agers" from those
who get Alzheimer's. One idea gaining attention is the "use it
or lose it" hypothesis: do people who remain physically and
mentally active reduce their risk of getting Alzheimer's
disease?
Today's scientists are combing efforts in molecular biology,
neurobiology, biochemistry, and computer science. Clinical
researchers specializing in the diagnoses and treatment of
patients with dementia are conducting clinical trials, and
studying the normal aging process.
Preserving patients' abilities
While people with Alzheimer's disease have problems with memory,
this doesn't mean they have problems with all aspects of brain
function or that they can't learn new things. Researchers have
discovered that Alzheimer's patients can not only learn new
tasks, but can also improve their ability on certain tasks. When
Alzheimer's patients learn a new motor-skills task, this
improved ability can transfer to other, similar tasks. Studies
are also underway that reveal just how early in the disease
process motor control is lost and whether practice can slow down
these changes.
Drawing and painting can help
There are also a range of other activities that appear to be
preserved in a number of Alzheimer's patients, including
drawing, painting and other artistic skills. Understanding what
abilities are spared during the disease rather than focusing on
what goes wrong may help us teach family members and care givers
how to better help Alzheimer's patients as the disease
progresses. It's now common for painting and other arts to be
offered at Adult daycare centers. Doctors are also looking into
any other abilities that are spared during the disease process
to understand which brain circuits are affected early versus
late in the disease.
Ounces of prevention
What can those in their 40's and 50's do to lower their risk of
getting Alzheimer's? Some doctors recommend a multi-level
strategy of good health, exercise and nutrition. What's good for
the heart is usually good for brain, so individuals should
follow a sensible healthy diet. Avoid fatty foods and excessive
carbohydrates. Eat fish, fiber, and plenty of green vegetables
and fruits. Other preventive measures include managing
hypertension--the earlier the better--reducing stress,
regulating glucose and keeping weight down to normal levels.
Clearly the battle lines against Alzheimer's have been drawn. We
know what this terrible disease can do. With continued dedicated
research, we'll hopefully discover a cure, or at the very least,
a way to stem its progression and delay its onset.