STRANGE STATIN STORY

     Do the statin drugs that lower cholesterol also protect against Alzheimer’s? Some studies say yes, some say no. This WEB MD story covers the situation in proper evenhanded style:

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20080116/
statins-may-not-curb-alzheimers-risk

     You’ll notice that the study that seemed to say statins didn’t help had only 900 subjects. Now let’s look at a study with close to a million subjects:

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20070718/
zocor-vs-alzheimers-and-parkinsons

     Isn’t that strange? The 727,000 patients who took Zocor were 54% less likely to get Alzheimer’s, those who took Lipitor were 9% less likely to get Alzheimer’s, and Mevacor had no effect at all.

     You may also be interested in knowing that Zocor is available as a generic known as simvastatin at a fraction of the cost of brand-name statins.

SOCIABILITY AND RELIABILITY ARE GOOD FOR YOU

     “A University of Michigan study that tested people as old as 96 found it only takes about 10 minutes of talking to someone else to improve your memory.”

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/2007/
7-10-29-TenMinutes.htm

     Another study found that people with many social contacts with family or friends were protected from the effects of Alzheimer’s, even though they had Alzheimer’s tangles and plaques in their brains:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/
6-04-21-SocialContactProtects.htm

     “Individuals who are more conscientious - in other words, those with a tendency to be self-disciplined, scrupulous and purposeful - appear less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease,” according to this study:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/2007/
7-10-01-MostConscientious.htm

HEALTHY EATING PROTECTS MIND AS WELL AS BODY

     “Senior Citizens Significantly Lower Dementia Risk Eating Fish, Omega-3 Oils, Fruits, Veggies.” Fish-oil capsules are an easy and inexpensive source of omega-3 oils. And you’ll find much more on “eating for a healthy mind” in this archive’s Diets And Nutrition main section.

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/2007/
7-11-13-SenCitSignificantlyLower.htm

     On the other hand, if you eat the wrong stuff, FAT FORTIES may lead to Alzheimer’s:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/
6-04-06-Obesityin40s.htm

STAY SHARP BY LEARNING NEW THINGS

     Certain types of “brain training” actually increase cognitive activity in older people. Read about it here:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Aging/
6-02-16-SeniorCitizensSlow.htm

     My grandfather used to say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Grandpa was wrong. Research now shows that teaching older people new “tricks” keeps them young mentally! So the “brain games” in this 1000 Best archive are good – and taking a college course or learning a new skill is even better. The Internet offers so many opportunities for learning. For example, you may be able to find something you want to learn by going to eHOW:

http://www.ehow.com/

     And even reading the newspaper helps!

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/2007/
7-06-27-TeamThatInspired.htm

     “Senior Citizens Improve Memory with Rote Learning Followed by Long Rest”:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Aging/
6-11-27-SeniorCitizensImprove.htm

KEEP DOWN YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

     Studies show that keeping down blood pressure with medication also protects seniors from Alzheimer’s. According to this study, diuretics are the best type:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/
6-03-17-BloodPressureLowering.htm

     A later study indicated that, “for older adults who are going to take an ACE inhibitor drug for blood pressure control, it makes sense for their doctors to prescribe one that goes into the brain."

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/2007
/7-05-08-ChooseAnACE.htm

OTHER RISK FACTORS

     KEEP DIABETES UNDER CONTROL: almost one-third of American adults have diabetes, and, since it is linked to overweight, the number is growing. If you have diabetes, it is important to keep it under control:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/
6-07-18-DeepeningConnections.htm

     SMOKING INCREASES ALZHEIMER’S RISK BY 50 PERCENT:

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=29480

     STRESS MAKES ALZHEIMER’S WORSE:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/
6-08-30-StressSignificantly.htm

     EXERCISE DOES MUCH TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER’S (and you’ll find more on the subject in the Outdoors, Environment, and Exercise section):

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/5-10-04ADRiskDiminished.htm