If you’re like most older adults, brain health is likely a top priority for you. To help keep you updated on the latest advancements in brain health and the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, Kendal at Home is launching a regular roundup of brain health news.
Here’s what you need to know to preserve your cognitive health.
Study: Education Doesn’t Prevent Dementia
A new study has found little difference in damage to brain cells caused by dementia between older adults who have a high school diploma and those who have a higher education. It was long believed that higher education could protect against the damage that occurs with dementia. But that doesn’t mean higher education doesn’t have an impact. Researchers found older adults who received a higher education had a higher level of cognitive function, which means if they developed dementia, they had a slower rate of decline and were less likely to die of dementia-related causes than their lesser-educated peers.
Source: NBC News
Daily Movement Could Boost Brain Health
You know getting regular exercise helps keep your brain healthy, but even if you don’t make it to the gym regularly, the daily movement you do around your house can still benefit your brain. A study has found housework, like cooking or cleaning, can make a difference in your brain health as you get into your 70s and 80s. Researchers found higher levels of daily movement were linked to improved thinking and memory skills.
Source: NPR
5 New Gene Mutations That Increase Alzheimer’s Risk
Scientists have found five new gene mutations that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Learning about how these gene variants influence risk could help lead the way for better treatment of the disease.
Source: HealthDay
Study: Long-term Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy Could Increase Alzheimer’s Risk
Long-term use of the therapy may be linked to a small increase in developing Alzheimer’s, researchers have found. They found a 9 to 17 percent increased risk in women who used hormonal replacement therapy pills before the age of 60 for 10 years or more. The use of vaginal creams showed no risk. Hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of vascular dementia, researchers noted.
Source: NBC News
Brain Health Supplements are ‘Pseudoscience,’ Doctors Say
Older adults are being ripped off and given false hope by the brain health supplement industry, wrote doctors in an opinion piece for the Journal of the American Medical Association. They cautioned, “No known dietary supplement prevents cognitive decline or dementia, yet supplements advertised as such are widely available and appear to gain legitimacy when sold by major U.S. retailers.”
Source: NextAvenue
