News.Life

Vaccine May Shield Against Dementia and Painful Shingles Outbreaks

Unknown dementia, health, healthcare and medicine, medicine and healthcare, vaccines

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 Getting vaccinated against shingles — a painful and debilitating condition that can flare up years after infection from varicella zoster — not only lowers the risk of infection, but may also offer some protection against dementia, a provocative new study suggests.


 The
 new research
 Published Wednesday in Nature, this study examined information from over 280,000 elderly individuals in Wales and discovered that those who got the initial shingles live virus vaccine had a 20% lower likelihood of developing any form of dementia compared to unvaccinated individuals.


 Previous research has found an association between the
 Shingrix shingles vaccine
 , which replaced the live virus version in 2020, and a lower risk of dementia, especially in women. But that link wasn't considered as strong because that study design couldn’t account for potential differences between those who were vaccinated and those who were not, such as the possibility that the vaccinated people might have been healthier overall. Shingrex, which targets a tiny bit of viral DNA, turned out to have a longer lasting effect than the original vaccine.


 The new study was possible because of an unusual public health policy in Wales that provided a “natural experiment” to explore the potential impact of the vaccine on dementia risk. With the rollout of the vaccine in 2013 in Wales, shots were offered to people born on or after Sept. 2, 1933, but not those who were born before that date.


 That allowed the German and Stanford University researchers to compare two groups of people with similar health characteristics who differed only by one week in age, making them essentially the same except that the vaccine was available to the younger population but not the older, said Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University and senior author of the study.


 What’s exciting about the study is that it’s essentially like a randomized controlled trial, considered the gold standard in research, he said.


 The way the original vaccine was rolled out in Wales provided a unique opportunity, said Allison Aiello, a professor of epidemiology at the Columbia University Aging Center in New York City.


 “It’s like having a control group compared to a treated group,” said Aiello, who was not associated with the new research. “What’s interesting is the finding of 20% protection. That is a pretty strong effect, which does fit with other research suggesting that herpes viruses might have an influence on dementia.”


 Scientists don’t know exactly how the chickenpox virus raises the risk of dementia. It’s been shown that reactivation of the virus can lead to the accumulation of aberrant proteins associated with Alzheimer’s, for example, Geldsetzer said. It’s also possible that the virus might spark a
 reactivation of herpes simplex
 which previous studies have associated with dementia.


 Herpesviruses always remain present in your body indefinitely.
 , yet they remain dormant within the body until the immune system weakens. As we age, our immune defenses naturally diminish, potentially allowing the virus to reactivate as shingles, an unpleasant condition.
 side effect of chickenpox
 .

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/video/AA1AD51Z" data-reference="video"/>

 The age-related impact is responsible for this phenomenon because the
 shingles vaccine
 is available exclusively to individuals aged 50 and above in the U.S. It requires two doses administered between two to six months apart.


 Experts indicate that herpes viruses, such as oral and genital herpes simplex, seem capable of infiltrating the central nervous system.


 In fact, a
 2024 study
 discovered that out of those 70-year-olds who didn't have dementia initially, individuals diagnosed with herpes simplex had over double the chance compared to those not infected to be affected by dementia throughout a subsequent 15-year period.


 Herpes simplex can wreak havoc if it passes through the blood-brain barrier. It can cause inflammation of both the meninges (meningitis) and the brain (encephalitis). Both can be fatal.


 Bolstering the case for the shingles vaccine protecting against dementia were the findings from a
 study published in Nature Medicine in 2024
 that analyzed medical records from more than 100,000 patients. That analysis suggested the newer shingles vaccine was associated with even better protection against dementia.


 In that study, researchers also investigated whether two other vaccines — for influenza and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis — had any impact on the risk for dementia. They did not.


 The key takeaway from the Stanford study, according to Dr. Aarati Didwania, a professor of medicine and medical education at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, is that vaccination could potentially reduce the likelihood of developing dementia.


 It's not entirely clear how the vaccines could provide protection against dementia, according to Didwania. "However, it raises an interesting query," she noted further. "Could this be due to reduced inflammation or stopping the virus from becoming active again?"


 Didwania mentioned that there is definitely a valid justification for receiving vaccinations.


 "Shingles is a dreadful, agonizing, and disabling ailment that can result in severe chronic pain," she stated.


 The recent research has certain constraints. Although it demonstrates the effectiveness of the vaccination in practical conditions, this does not equate to the rigor of a randomized controlled trial, noted Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center located in Nashville, Tennessee. However, conducting such random assignments for vaccines would raise significant ethical concerns, he explained.


 “He described the research as provocative, intriguing, and thrilling.”


 Schaffner suggested that the Food and Drug Administration might examine studies connecting shingles vaccinations with a reduced likelihood of developing dementia, which could then permit the pharmaceutical firm to include this information on the product labeling.


 If that does not occur, physicians can utilize the research results to persuade patients to opt for vaccination.


 Definitely, there are numerous individuals aged 50 and above who haven't gotten vaccinated," he stated. "Should you mention that certain studies indicate the vaccine could help prevent some forms of dementia, this might influence their decision.


 The article was initially posted on
 DIwida.Blog & News

Vaccine May Shield Against Dementia and Painful Shingles Outbreaks

Unknown dementia, health, healthcare and medicine, medicine and healthcare, vaccines

Getting vaccinated against shingles — a painful and debilitating condition that can flare up years after infection from varicella zoster — not only lowers the risk of infection, but may also offer s…

Scientists discover the brain's 3 ageing 'waves' that starts before 60

Unknown aging, brain health, dementia, health and exercise, senior citizens

<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
 <li class="">
 
 READ MORE: 4 crucial factors that can protect you from developing dementia
 
 </li>
</ul>

 Whether you're turning 60, 70 or 80, everyone starts to feel 'old' at very different times.


 But our brains go through three distinct 'ageing peaks' throughout our lives, according to a new study.


 Experts have identified that levels of 13 proteins linked to brain ageing spike at 57, 70 and 78.


 This suggests that these specific age groups may be critical points where interventions can significantly aid in maintaining brain health for an extended period, according to them.


 The group examined the levels of approximately 3,000 proteins in the blood plasma of almost 5,000 Britons ranging from 45 to 82 years old.


 The analysis showed that 13 proteins closely associated with brain aging appear in three distinct peaks related to age at 57, 70, and 78 years old.


 A specific protein known as Brevican (BCAN) is linked to the beginning of dementia, stroke, and problems related to movement.


 Another protein, called GDF15, has also been linked to age-related diseases.

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 The authors said that the peaks in these 13 proteins may reflect changes in human brain health at these specific ages.


 And these could be important times to consider interventions in the brain ageing process, they said, that could help delay the onset of diseases such as dementia.


 The research was led by a team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China.


 Writing in the journal Nature Ageing they warned that by 2050, it is estimated that the number of people aged 65 years and above will exceed 1.5 billion globally – highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the ageing process.


 In the UK alone, nearly one million people have the condition, with numbers rising. It remains our biggest killer.


 'We found that the late fifth decade is a potential onset timepoint for brain ageing,' they said.


 'In addition, our study suggested that the seventh and late seventh decades are also essential time points in brain ageing.


 'These findings contribute to bridging essential knowledge gaps in clarifying the molecular mechanisms of brain aging, with substantial implications for the future development of… biomarkers for brain aging, as well as personalised therapeutic targets for subsequent age-related brain disorders.'


 The finding arrives only months following independent research that similarly identified specific periods throughout one’s lifespan when the body experiences the majority of aging—thus debunking the notion that this process happens steadily over time.

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 In September, researchers from Stanford University found that age-related alterations such as decreased metabolic rate, aging skin, and heightened susceptibility to illnesses notably spike around ages 44 and 60.


 These alterations might result in gaining weight or experiencing more intense effects from consuming alcohol.


 Dr Michael Snyder, Professor of Genetics at Stanford University and senior author of the study, said: 'People assume everybody's kind of aging gradually. It turns out that most changes are not linear.'


 To offset the impact of these dramatic aging 'waves', the team suggests that people approaching the milestones of 44 and 60 exercise more often and adopt a healthier diet.


 The team analyzed data from repeated collections of blood and stool samples and oral, skin and nasal swabs from 108 healthy people between the ages of 25 and 75 across California over a median period of 1.7 years.


 During analysis, scientists noticed that 81 percent of the observed molecules including proteins and RNA changed in at least one wave.


 The team ultimately concluded substantial dysregulation occurring at two major periods — with the age of 44 causing the biggest shift, and 60 also producing a significant uptick.


 Dr. Steve Hoffmann, a computational biologist at Leibniz Institute on Aging in Germany told the Wall Street Journal: 'These studies probably align very well with the experiences we have ourselves, or heard from others who perceive a sudden decline in physiological fitness.'


 'Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research,' said Dr Xiaotao Shen, a former Stanford Medicine postdoctoral scholar, and now an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University Singapore.


 In people in their 40s, significant changes were seen in the number of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine and lipid metabolism; as well as shifts in markers related to cardiovascular disease, and skin and muscle aging.


 A similar but less pronounced 'wave' of aging was noted at age 60.


 It's possible some of these changes could be tied to lifestyle or behavioral factors that cluster at these age groups, Dr Snyder said.

Read more

Scientists discover the brain's 3 ageing 'waves' that starts before 60

Unknown aging, brain health, dementia, health and exercise, senior citizens

READ MORE: 4 crucial factors that can protect you from developing dementia Whether you're turning 60, 70 or 80, everyone starts to feel 'old' at very different times. But our brains go…

Doctors Unveil Terrifying Health Risk Tied to Poor Sleep in Malaysia

Unknown dementia, health, health and exercise, illness, medical conditions and diseases

<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
 <li class="">
 
 EXPLORE FURTHER: Experts unveil the disorder that occurs within the body upon lack of sleep
 
 </li>
</ul>

 Experts caution that feeling drowsy constantly might indicate dementia.


 University of
 California
 Researchers have discovered that older women experiencing daytime sleepiness face twice the risk of developing dementia.


 Adequate sleep is essential for maintaining brain health and restoring cognitive functions, along with strengthening newly acquired knowledge and experiences.


 Dementia has been shown to disrupt that process, meaning even those who get eight hours of sleep per night may not be getting quality rest.


 The researchers found the link, though they could not say conclusively whether bad sleep causes dementia by circumventing the brain's normal waste-removal and rejuvenation processes while it sleeps, or if progressive brain decay causes poor sleep quality.


 Dr Yue Leng, an epidemiologist at UC San Francisco who specializes in the link between sleep and neurodegeneration in older adults, said: ‘Our study found that sleep problems may be intertwined with cognitive aging and may serve as an early marker or risk factor for dementia in women in their 80s.'

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 The researchers from UC San Francisco and UC San Diego analyzed data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF), which enrolled women 65 and up from Baltimore, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and Portland, Oregon, between 1986 and 1988.


 The study followed 733 women with an average age of 83 at the start over decades.


 None of the women exhibited signs of cognitive impairment at the start of the study. Researchers conducted follow-up ‘visits’ at various time points.


 They relied on a technology introduced after the study began, specifically around 2002, during the eighth visit.


 At that point, researchers began using wrist-worn actigraphs – small devices that measure movement using a sensor and continuously record sleeping and waking activity.


 Women wore them for three days at the start and end of the study.


 They also conducted cognitive testing periodically throughout the study.


 Over a third of the women had declining nighttime sleep (DNS), indicating poor sleep quality.

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 Twenty-one percent had increasing sleepiness (IS), and overall, more than half of women had poor sleep patterns over five years.


 Over 22 percent of women developed cognitive impairment over a five-year follow-up period, and 13 percent of them developed dementia.


 Women stuck in one of these detrimental sleep patterns had a two- to three-fold risk of developing dementia compared to those with stable sleep.


 Even after adjusting for age, education, and race, the increased risk of dementia linked to daytime sleepiness was still double.


 Using actigraphy data, researchers were also able to see clearly how sleep habits and patterns change as women age.


 Both DNS and IS pattern groups napped more during the day, had weaker circadian rhythms, and worsened sleep quality by the year.


 The latest research was published in the journal Neurology.


 Studies have long questioned the link between sleep patterns and dementia risk, likening it to a chicken-or-the-egg scenario: does poor sleep cause dementia, or does dementia engender poor sleep?

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 Several other studies have demonstrated links between insufficient amount of sleep and dementia risk.


 A Harvard Medical School study, for instance, followed 2,800 people 65 and older and found those who slept for five hours or fewer every night
 were twice as likely
 to develop dementia compared to those who slept six to eight hours nightly.


 At the same time, poor sleep is a known symptom of dementia. People with the neurodegenerative disease – around two-thirds of whom are women – often struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep.


 People with dementia spend less time in stages three and four of sleep, when the body repairs tissues, bolsters the immune system’s preparedness, processes memories, restores energy, and clears waste products from the brain.


 Dr Leng said: ‘This highlights the need for future studies to look at all aspects of daily sleep patterns to better understand how changes in these patterns over time can be linked to dementia risk.’

Read more

Doctors Unveil Terrifying Health Risk Tied to Poor Sleep in Malaysia

Unknown dementia, health, health and exercise, illness, medical conditions and diseases

EXPLORE FURTHER: Experts unveil the disorder that occurs within the body upon lack of sleep Experts caution that feeling drowsy constantly might indicate dementia. University of Calif…

Could Mid-Dream Waking Be a Sign of Dementia Risk? Discover Why

Unknown alzheimer's disease, brain health, dementia, health, health and exercise

<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
 <li class="">
 
 READ MORE:
 Dementia explosion linked to one of America's favorite foods
 
 </li>
</ul>

 Waking up mid-dream could be an early warning sign of dementia, a study suggests.


 People who go into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep - the part of the sleep cycle responsible for dreams and storing memories - later in the night are more prone to or more likely to have dementia.


 The researchers believe this could be because
 REM sleep is crucial for the production of melatonin.
 , which aids in eliminating harmful proteins associated with brain damage.


 According to researchers, one indication that you might be experiencing delayed REM sleep or insufficient amounts of it is frequently waking up during a dream.


 That's why following a night of alcohol consumption
 alcohol
 you're less likely to sleep soundly, as alcohol suppresses REM sleep.


 Dr Yue Leng, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF, said: 'The delay in REM sleep disrupts the brain's ability to consolidate memories by interfering with the process that contributes to learning and memory.


 'If it is insufficient or delayed, it may increase the stress hormone cortisol. This can impair the brain's hippocampus, a critical structure for memory consolidation.'


 The study comes as dementia kills more than 288,000 Americans every year and affects about 7million.

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 REM follows three phases of non-REM sleep, each deeper than the last.


 The four phases take 90 minutes or more to complete, depending on age, and a person may cycle through them four or five times in a typical night.


 Older people take longer to reach REM.


 In the
 new study
 , researchers from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital have
 Beijing
 monitored the sleep cycles of 128 participants whose average age was 70 years.


 Approximately half were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and around one-third exhibited signs of mild cognitive impairment, which often precedes Alzheimer’s. The remaining participants showed typical cognitive function.


 Scientists monitored their brainwave patterns, ocular movements, heart rate, and respiration throughout the night at the facility.


 They subsequently split the participants into groups based on early and delayed REM sleep stages.


 The early group typically reached REM less than 98 minutes after falling asleep, while the late group took more than 193 minutes.

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 Those with Alzheimer’s were more likely to have delayed REM sleep, 16 percent more amyloid and 29 percent more tau than those with early REM sleep.


 These are toxic proteins that clump together in the brain to form plaques in nerve cells, disrupting normal communication and killing them off.


 Previous research on mice has suggested melatonin can boost REM sleep and decreases tau and amyloid accumulation.


 Other drugs that treat insomnia by blocking a chemical that suppresses REM sleep have also been shown to decrease tau and amyloid.


 The scientists suggested that people who are concerned about their Alzheimer's risk should 'practice healthy sleep habits' that help shift from light to REM sleep.


 Dr Dantao Peng, an expert in neurology at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and study senior author, added: 'This includes treating conditions like sleep apnea and avoiding heavy drinking, since both can interfere with a healthy sleep cycle.


 'Patients taking certain antidepressants and sedatives that reduce REM sleep should discuss their concerns with their doctor, if they are worried about Alzheimer's.'

Read more

Could Mid-Dream Waking Be a Sign of Dementia Risk? Discover Why

Unknown alzheimer's disease, brain health, dementia, health, health and exercise

READ MORE: Dementia explosion linked to one of America's favorite foods Waking up mid-dream could be an early warning sign of dementia, a study suggests. People who go into rapid ey…

¿Cuándo Un Perro Se Vuelve Viejo?: Descubre la Verdad

Unknown aging, dementia, dogs, neurodegenerative diseases, pet owners

Las emociones de los perros no son tan diferentes a las humanas. Ya en la década de los 80
 
 ,
 <a href="https://vet.tufts.edu/people/staff/nicholas-h-dodman-bvms-dacva-dacvb">
 el Dr. Nicholas Dodman
 </a>
 de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria de la Universidad de Tufts
 <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201609/can-dog-really-suffer-depression">
 descubrió que
 
 los perros
 
 </a>
 
 pueden experimentar cambios químicos y hormonales que provocan depresión y ansiedad, igual que en las personas.
 


 
 A medida que los perros envejecen, normalmente experimentan una disminución en su capacidad para funcionar como antes
 
 , y su salud mental y cerebral también envejecen con sus cuerpos.
 <a href="https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_cognitive_dysfunction_syndrome">
 El síndrome de disfunción cognitiva canina
 </a>
 (CCD, por sus siglas en inglés) es una afección relacionada con el envejecimiento del cerebro de un perro, que
 
 se ha comparado con la demencia o el alzhéimer en humanos
 
 , debido a que el perro experimenta un deterioro cognitivo, según
 <a href="https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/dog-dementia">
 PetMD
 </a>
 .

<h2>
 
 ¿A qué edad un perro se vuelve viejo?
 
</h2>

 ¿Pero cuándo saber si un perro efectivamente está llegando a la vez? Fue precisamente lo que ha logrado responder un nuevo estudio de la Universidad de Liverpool, que
 
 ha determinado la edad promedio en la que
 
 <a href="https://www.latercera.com/que-pasa/noticia/soy-veterinaria-y-estas-son-tres-cosas-con-las-que-nunca-alimentaria-a-mi-perro/MKGMEFWOQNG47JYEW5Y5ARDDAA/">
 
 los veterinarios
 
 </a>
 
 consideran que los perros están en “vejez”
 
 , proporcionando información que puede ayudar a los dueños a prepararse para los años de vejez de sus mascotas.


 La investigación
 
 también destaca los problemas de salud más comunes que enfrentan los perros mayores,
 
 enfatizando la importancia de la detección y el cuidado tempranos. El estudio se
 <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13809">
 publicó
 </a>
 en el
 
 Journal of Small Animal Practice
 
 .


 De acuerdo a la investigación,
 
 al analizar los registros médicos electrónicos veterinarios
 
 , los investigadores descubrieron que, por lo general,
 
 a los perros se les considera ancianos a los 12,5 años,
 
 aunque este hito varía según la raza. Las razas más pequeñas, como los Jack Russell Terrier, tienden a envejecer más lentamente, y la vejez comienza más cerca de los 14 años. Las razas más grandes, como los Labrador Retriever, se consideran ancianos mucho antes, alrededor de los 12 años.

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 El estudio también identificó
 
 los cinco principales problemas de salud que afectan a los perros mayores:
 

<ul>
 <li>
 Problemas relacionados con el peso (35%): Incluye sobrepeso, bajo peso y pérdida de peso.
 </li>
 <li>
 Problemas musculoesqueléticos (33%): como rigidez y problemas de movilidad.
 </li>
 <li>
 Afecciones dentales (31%): desde acumulación de sarro hasta enfermedad periodontal.
 </li>
 <li>
 Problemas relacionados con la piel (28%): incluidos bultos, infecciones o pérdida de cabello.
 </li>
 <li>
 Problemas digestivos (22%): abarca síntomas como vómitos o diarrea.
 </li>
</ul>

 La investigación enfatiza que
 
 el ritmo al que envejecen los perros no es “universal”.
 


 La profesora Carri Westgarth, que dirigió la investigación, afirmó en un comunicado que “este estudio nos permitió examinar por primera vez cuándo
 
 los veterinarios empiezan a notar que los perros se encuentran en una etapa de su vida en la que los consideran ‘ancianos’ o ‘mayores’.
 
 Al analizar qué signos notaban los dueños y qué afecciones diagnosticaban los veterinarios, podemos mejorar nuestra comprensión de cómo brindar la mejor atención a nuestros
 <a href="https://phys.org/tags/dogs/">
 perros
 </a>
 “.


 Los controles regulares y la atención proactiva son esenciales, ya que
 <a href="https://phys.org/tags/health+concerns/">
 los problemas de salud
 </a>
 asociados con la vejez a menudo se superponen y empeoran con el tiempo. Los hallazgos se han utilizado para desarrollar el
 <a href="https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/cilgrouppetsaversact">
 Kit de herramientas para perros envejecidos
 </a>
 ,
 
 que incluye una lista de verificación gratuita de signos a tener en cuenta a medida que su perro envejece y que podrían requerir asesoramiento veterinario.
 


 Basándose en los hallazgos del estudio, los investigadores ofrecen los siguientes consejos para los dueños de mascotas:

<ul>
 <li>
 Comprender las necesidades específicas de envejecimiento de su perro: comprender el envejecimiento específico de la raza de su perro puede ayudarlo a anticiparse a sus necesidades de atención médica.
 </li>
 <li>
 Sea proactivo ante afecciones comunes: desde el control del peso hasta
 <a href="https://phys.org/tags/dental+care/">
 el cuidado dental
 </a>
 , abordar los problemas de forma temprana puede marcar una gran diferencia.
 </li>
 <li>
 Visite al veterinario periódicamente: la detección temprana es clave para garantizar una vida más larga y feliz para su perro.
 </li>
</ul>

¿Cuándo Un Perro Se Vuelve Viejo?: Descubre la Verdad

Unknown aging, dementia, dogs, neurodegenerative diseases, pet owners

Las emociones de los perros no son tan diferentes a las humanas. Ya en la década de los 80 , el Dr. Nicholas Dodman de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria de la Universidad de Tufts …

While Alzheimer's Might Seem Out of Your Hands, There Are a Few Risk Factors You Might Be Able To Control

Unknown alzheimer's disease, brain health, dementia, medical conditions and diseases, neurodegenerative diseases

<a href="https://christinebryden.com/about-christine/">
 Christine Bryden
 </a>
 was gobsmacked in 1995, when doctors
 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/alzheimers/statistics-surrounding-alzheimers">
 diagnosed
 </a>
 her with Alzheimer's. Only a year before, the 46-year-old biochemist had won Australia's Public Service Medal for outstanding work in science and technology. "Life was up for me," she writes on the YoungDementia UK website. "But on that fateful afternoon, everything changed, and I felt cut down in my prime."


 As she looked back, Bryden began to believe her diagnosis was somehow connected to her lifestyle. She never got enough sleep. She worked all the time. Her stress levels were stratospheric. At night she came home "with a pile of work," which she dove into after rushing to get her young daughters settled for the night. The next morning, Bryden woke up, worked some more, then got her daughters ready for the day.

<h2>
 Looking at her lifestyle
</h2>

 "Maybe a lack of sleep damaged my brain to some extent. But also, a high level of stress may have contributed to my brain damage," she writes. Bryden might not be that far off. Although doctors have been treating Alzheimer's for decades, they are still stymied as to its exact causes. For the most part, scientists believe the disease is
 <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-causes-alzheimers-disease#:~:text=The%20causes%20probably%20include%20a,differ%20from%20person%20to%20person.">
 triggered by a number of genetic and lifestyle factors
 </a>
 . Each impacts the brain over time. While people cannot change how old they are or the genes they are born with, they
 
 can
 
 change how they live. For starters, they can quit smoking and start eating more healthful foods. They can exercise more and lose weight. They can drink less and stimulate their minds more.


 A risk factor is just that - something that increases a person's risk, or chances, of developing some type of medical condition. Some risk factors, like age, are "non-modifiable," which means they cannot be prevented. Others, however, may be able to change with certain lifestyle habits. Here, a look at some of the most commonly known risk factors for
 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/alzheimers/the-stages-of-alzheimers">
 Alzheimer's disease
 </a>
 and what - if anything - you may be able to do about them.

<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/mental-health/nearly-half-of-dementia-cases-are-preventable-read-report">
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rd7Fq" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rd7Fq.jpg"/>
</a>
<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/mental-health/nearly-half-of-dementia-cases-are-preventable-read-report">
 Wellness
</a>
<h3>
 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/mental-health/nearly-half-of-dementia-cases-are-preventable-read-report">
 
 Nearly Half of Dementia Cases Are Preventable-See the 2024 Report Highlights
 
 </a>
</h3>
In 2022, 2.3 million U.S. adults aged 65 and older were diagnosed with dementia, increasing concerns among at-risk seniors about prevention. The 2024 Lancet dementia report identified 14 key risk factors, plus two new ones, suggesting that 45 percent of dementia cases could be preventable with lifelong intervention. Read the full story to discover how […]
<h2>
 Non-modifiable risk factors
</h2>
<h3>
 Age
</h3>

 While certain memory loss is normal as we age, Alzheimer's is not. Experts say that between the ages of 65 and 70, the prevalence of AD is 1.5 percent. That means 15 out of every 1,000 people will get the disease by that point in their life. Those odds increase with each year. By the time we reach 75, the prevalence more than doubles, to 3.5 percent, or 35 out of every 1,000. By the time we hit 80, the prevalence of AD increases to 6.8 percent. As we approach our 100th birthday, the percentage skyrockets to 44.5 percent.

<h3>
 Family history
</h3>

 Whether we get Alzheimer's disease may have to do with our genetics. Researchers say that if one parent or sibling has the disease,
 <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/alzheimers-in-the-family#:~:text=Family%20history%20by%20the%20numbers,hike%20in%20your%20existing%20risk.">
 your risk increases by about 30 percent
 </a>
 . And there's also a greater chance of developing AD if both parents are afflicted.

<h3>
 Ethnicity
</h3>

 <a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2023/02/alzheimers-genetics.html">
 Some studies suggest
 </a>
 that ethnic minorities, especially African Americans, have higher rates of dementia than Caucasians. Scientists recently identified two new genes in African Americans that may increase the risk. One of the genes,
 <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/gene-variant-linked-higher-risk-alzheimers-african-americans">
 ABCA7, works to produce cholesterol and lipids
 </a>
 . Some researchers believe that Alzheimer's may involve abnormalities in how our bodies metabolize fat. Other factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, may also play a role among older African Americans and Latinos. It's also possible that
 <a href="https://aaic.alz.org/releases_2022/lower-socioeconomic-dementia-risk.asp">
 lower incomes and limited educational opportunities
 </a>
 due to systemic discrimination against both groups contribute to the disease's progression.

<h3>
 Brain injury
</h3>

 Researchers believe a
 <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/related_conditions/traumatic-brain-injury">
 traumatic brain injury increases the risk of Alzheimer's
 </a>
 and other forms of dementia.
 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1173459/">
 One study found
 </a>
 that older adults who have had moderate traumatic brain injury (lost consciousness for more than 30 minutes) are 2.3 times more likely to develop AD than seniors who have not had a head injury. Seniors who have had severe brain injury (lost consciousness for more than 24 hours) are 4.5 times more likely to develop AD. Obviously, not everyone who experiences a head injury develops Alzheimer's or some other type of dementia. Moreover, there is no evidence indicating that a mild brain injury increases the risk.

<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/do-genes-cause-alzheimers">
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1u2mUx" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1u2mUx.jpg"/>
</a>
<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/do-genes-cause-alzheimers">
 Wellness
</a>
<h3>
 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/do-genes-cause-alzheimers">
 
 Does Alzheimer's Run In the Family? Here's What Doctors Know About the Gene Factor - And What They Don't
 
 </a>
</h3>
Understand the link.
<h2>
 Modifiable risk factors
</h2>
<h3>
 Heart health
</h3>

 When it comes to Alzheimer's, what's bad for your heart is bad for your brain. Researchers believe that cardiovascular problems are linked to the progression of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia later in life. A
 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28783817/">
 study published in 2017 by researchers at Johns Hopkins University
 </a>
 tracked nearly 16,000 middle-aged people in four states. Over a 25-year span, from 1987, researchers administered a variety of medical, memory, and cognitive tests. As the study progressed, 1,500 people were diagnosed with dementia, confirming that those with midlife vascular risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, had a greater chance of developing dementia. Moreover, the researchers confirmed what other studies had only hinted - smoking cigarettes increased the risk of dementia.

<h3>
 Alcohol use
</h3>

 For years scientists have been investigating if alcohol use is related to Alzheimer's. One study, amazingly, found that drinking up to three glasses of wine a day lowered the risk of Alzheimer's, but
 
 only in people who have the APOE e4 gene
 
 .
 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3865814/">
 Other studies
 </a>
 have also described the beneficial effects of low to moderate wine consumption. As much as researchers can decipher, low to moderate drinking actually protects the brain by reducing the viscosity, or thickness, of blood and increasing the amount of good cholesterol, known as HDL, in the body.


 That said, two major reviews of multiple research studies found that
 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6320619/">
 heavy drinkers and binge drinkers were more likely to develop AD and other forms of dementia
 </a>
 than those who drank moderately. Binge drinking, according to the
 <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm">
 Centers for Disease Control
 </a>
 and Prevention, is when men consume five or more drinks in about two hours and women imbibe four or more in that same period.

<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/brain/how-alzheimers-affects-your-brain">
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1u2D9h" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1u2D9h.jpg"/>
</a>
<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/brain/how-alzheimers-affects-your-brain">
 Aging
</a>
<h3>
 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/brain/how-alzheimers-affects-your-brain">
 
 What Really Happens to a Brain With Alzheimer's? Onset, Effects, and Scientific Findings Explained
 
 </a>
</h3>
An attack on the body's main control center.
<h3>
 Obesity
</h3>

 Obesity causes a variety of ills, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and other cardiovascular issues. It also seems to be a major factor in AD, doubling a person's
 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/brain/how-alzheimers-affects-your-brain">
 risk of developing amyloid plaque
 </a>
 - the bogeyman of Alzheimer's - later in life. Past research on how people's weight influences their risk of dementia has produced conflicting results.
 <a href="https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/overweight-linked-increased-risk-dementia/">
 Some studies say
 </a>
 that if you're obese, you're at a high risk for dementia.
 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25866264/">
 Other studies
 </a>
 , however, have linked lower-than-average weight to increased dementia.


 In 2017, however, researchers put nearly all questions regarding obesity and Alzheimer's to rest.
 <a href="https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/high-bmi-linked-increased-risk-dementia-later-life/">
 A 38-year study of 1.3 million adults
 </a>
 living in the United States and Europe concluded that individuals with a high body mass index (BMI) are more likely to develop Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia than those who have a normal body weight.


 In that same study, scientists found that people with early-onset dementia and a low BMI go on to develop full-blown dementia more often than those who are of a healthy weight. The reason, researchers concluded, is that both obesity and a low body weight during the pre-dementia stage change how the body metabolizes fat. The study suggests that maintaining a healthy weight could prevent the illness - or at least stave off its effects.

<h2>
 How lifestyle may make a difference
</h2>

 In 2017, researchers in Great Britain announced that changing how you live may throw up a roadblock in the path of Alzheimer's disease. And while there are no proven ways to permanently stave off AD, they note that some changes in lifestyle might slow its progression.


 The study, conducted by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care, looked at nine risk factors. It concluded that more than one-third of all Alzheimer's cases are related to these risk factors and that avoiding them at every stage of life may delay or even stop memory loss. The researchers reached their conclusions by looking at a number of past Alzheimer's Disease studies. Their statistical analysis found that 35 percent of dementia cases could be prevented by fully addressing these and several other contributing lifestyle issues. Researchers noted that combating Alzheimer's needs to begin early - as soon as children start going to school.


 The less time a child spends in school, the greater the risk of developing Alzheimer's later in life. In fact, the researchers found that children who had no secondary schooling had a 7.5 percent increased risk of developing Alzheimer's. That's why the researchers recommend that students stay in school until they reach the age of 15.

<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/brain/experts-share-6-easy-brain-boosting-memory-enhancing-tips-youll-want-to-try">
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1u2hCV" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1u2hCV.jpg"/>
</a>
<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/brain/experts-share-6-easy-brain-boosting-memory-enhancing-tips-youll-want-to-try">
 Aging
</a>
<h3>
 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/aging/brain/experts-share-6-easy-brain-boosting-memory-enhancing-tips-youll-want-to-try">
 
 Experts Share 6 Easy Brain-Boosting, Memory-Enhancing Tips You'll Want to Try!
 
 </a>
</h3>
From the "smartest" foods (hint: SMASH!) to the fun tricks that'll help you recall people's names, experts share memory-boosting tips!
<h3>
 Lifestyle changes
</h3>

 The study also recommends that people, regardless of their age, exercise more, stop smoking, become more involved socially, reduce their weight, and manage their depression. "Although dementia is diagnosed in later life, the brain changes usually begin to develop years before, with risk factors for developing the disease occurring throughout life, not just in old age," said lead study author
 <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychiatry/people/livingston-g">
 Gill Livingston, Ph.D.
 </a>
 , professor of psychiatry of older people at the University College London. "We believe that a broader approach to prevention of dementia, which reflects these changing risk factors, will benefit our aging societies and help to prevent the rising number of dementia cases globally."


 The study was provocative, because researchers based their conclusions on a statistical analysis of previous studies rather than patient research. A similar study in the US was a bit more circumspect, concluding that perhaps a few lifestyle changes can bolster brain health, although the study offered no definitive proof that they would. Yet scientists are so intrigued with the lifestyle component that the
 <a href="https://aaic.alz.org/releases_2017/AAIC17-Thurs-overview-recap.asp">
 Alzheimer's Association in 2017 launched a $20 million clinical trial
 </a>
 with 2,500 people to see whether lifestyle changes can prevent cognitive decline and dementia.


 While lifestyle changes help some people, they might not help others. That's because there are myriad reasons that some people get Alzheimer's and others do not. One reason is genetics, especially in early-onset cases. People who suffer from late-onset Alzheimer's (in which symptoms become apparent in a person's mid-60s) do so because of a series of complex brain changes that occur over decades. There is consensus among researchers that genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors all play a role.

<h2>
 How to keep your mind sharp and ward off Alzheimer's risks
</h2>
<h3>
 Have an extra cuppa
</h3>

 Turns out coffee packs a boatload of brain-boosting nutrients. Research published in BMJ found that adults who regularly drink three to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day have a lower risk of Alzheimer's and other cognitive dysfunction. That's thanks to coffee's combo of brain-supporting antioxidants and caffeine, which can increase alertness and sharpen concentration both in the moment and in the long run.

<h3>
 Take a hike
</h3>

 A study in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that planned, structured and repetitive exercise, such as a daily walk around the block, slows cognitive decline. Exercise improves blood flow and increases noradrenaline, a chemical that transmits nerve signals in the brain. To get the benefit, walk 30 minutes per day at least three days a week.

<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/gut-microbiome-and-alzheimers-the-link-between-your-gut-and-brain">
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1qYeS6" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1qYeS6.jpg"/>
</a>
<a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/gut-microbiome-and-alzheimers-the-link-between-your-gut-and-brain">
 Wellness
</a>
<h3>
 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/gut-microbiome-and-alzheimers-the-link-between-your-gut-and-brain">
 
 The Gut Microbiome May Play a Role in Your Alzheimer's Risk: MD Explains
 
 </a>
</h3>
Find out how to nourish your gut and potentially help reduce the risk of memory loss as you age
<h3>
 Savor tuna salad
</h3>

 Omega-3 fatty acids help build brain and nerve cells. And studies have shown that omega-3s can help prevent Alzheimer's and other age-related cognitive decline too. Fatty fish such as salmon, albacore tuna, herring and sardines are a great source of omega-3s-aim to eat at least 8 oz. of fish per week.

<h3>
 Sleep easy
</h3>

 An analysis of more than 50 trials found that taking at least 3 mg of melatonin daily for six to 12 months improved cognitive function. The sleep hormone helps promote sound rest that benefits brain health, plus it reduces oxidative stress, a major contributor to brain aging.


 
 A version of this article appeared in our partner magazine Alzheimer's: New Hope for a Cure, in 2020, as well as Woman's World in 2024.
 


 
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 <a href="https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/study-reveals-link-between-gut-health-and-parkinsons-risk-over-time">
 
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 </a>

While Alzheimer's Might Seem Out of Your Hands, There Are a Few Risk Factors You Might Be Able To Control

Unknown alzheimer's disease, brain health, dementia, medical conditions and diseases, neurodegenerative diseases

Christine Bryden was gobsmacked in 1995, when doctors diagnosed her with Alzheimer's. Only a year before, the 46-year-old biochemist had won Australia's Public Service Medal for outstan…