Learning to beat Alzheimer’s
It’s never too early to guard against dementia. A new study throws light on what that means.
Focus on cancer survivors
A study in mice suggests a surprising possibility: certain cancers may send a protective signal to the brain that helps clear away the toxic protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
It does not mean that having cancer is good, but it does reveal a pathway that scientists might be able to harness more safely.
The study fits with other research suggesting the relationship between cancer and neurodegenerative diseases is more than a statistical quirk.
Large population studies report people with Alzheimer’s are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with cancer, and vice versa, even after accounting for age and other health factors.
A protein that contributes to disease in one organ may be used as a cleanup tool in another, and by understanding these tricks, researchers believe they may be able to use them safely to help protect the ageing human brain.
It boils down to what the researchers call “lifelong learning”.
While other studies have shown the importance that continued physical exercise and mental activity plays in delaying dementia, a study by the Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago unpacks what an intellectually stimulating environment looks like.
Those who were found to live such a life are said to be 38% less likely to experience the disease.
Mentally stimulating activities such as reading, writing, and learning a new language hold the secret. And the longer one participates in such lifelong learning, the greater the benefits.
The researchers found that those with the most lifelong learning developed Alzheimer’s disease five years later and developed mild cognitive impairment seven years later than those with the lowest amount of lifelong learning.
“Our findings suggest that cognitive health in later life is strongly influenced by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments,” study author and neuropsychologist, Dr Andrea Zammit, said.
Other learning activities include reading newspapers, visiting museums, and reading lots of books – all of which help to keep the brain healthy.
The researchers studied 1,939 people with an average age of 80 who did not have dementia at the start of the study and followed them for about eight years.
Asking about their childhoods, researchers looked at whether people had access to encyclopaedias, globes or atlases, and books; whether they were read to or learnt a language; and if their parents were educated and bought newspapers.
In midlife, income level, whether people had reading material or were a member of a library, and activities such as visiting museums were assessed. Late-life enrichment activities from about the age of 80 included reading, writing, and playing games, including board games.
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, and education, the study found that people in the top 10% of lifetime cognitive enrichment had a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer’s compared with those in the bottom 10%.
People with the highest amount of lifelong learning developed Alzheimer’s disease five years later and developed mild memory loss seven years later than those with the lowest amount.
“In this study, we looked at sustained engagement over time – a general pattern of how engaged a person is with these cognitive enriching activities,” Dr Zammit said.
“Daily reading along with other cognitively stimulating experiences fostered from childhood onwards creates an enriching foundation for the future.”
The study found those with higher lifetime enrichment had better memory and thinking skills and slower decline prior to death, even when researchers accounted for brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s, such as the buildup of proteins called amyloid and tau.
The findings have significant public policy implications for the public and private sectors looking to reduce the incidence of dementia.
These include greater community and health investments that expand access to enriching environments, like libraries and early-education programs designed to spark a lifelong love of learning.
Comprehensive information on dementia and Alzheimer’s specifically is available here.
Related reading: Rush, The Australian, Healthdirect
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