Recent research suggests new clues in the development of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, particularly how some patients may be way ahead of their doctors in detecting memory changes that eventually become the ailment while later retirement has been linked to lower some people's risk.
The first finding, presented last week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, said that patients who noticed subtle changes in their memory were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s years later.
This could help patients speak up to their doctors when they notice lapses beginning to emerge, said Kim Kinner, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Wisconsin.
Furthermore, Kinner said clinicians should take research to heart and listen to patients reporting concerns. She cautioned, however, that not every “senior moment” is a sign of disease.
“What it does mean is that you probably should pay attention to that, and talk to your physician or clinician,” Kinner said.
Meanwhile, another new study found that delaying retirement protected workers in France from the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Katie Dykes, a geriatric nurse practitioner with the Department of Geriatrics and Long Term Care at Prevea Healthcare in Green Bay, said that this underlines the importance of keeping active.
“Even if you have a normal, healthy brain, keeping it active is a way to reduce the risk of progressing to Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dykes.
Dykes recommends that anyone with concerns about developing Alzheimer's or dementia do baseline testing of their entire cognitive ability, including memory, concentration and vocabulary skills, to give their doctors something to compare to if they start to notice changes.
Older adults should watch for life-disrupting memory changes -- not just forgetting simple facts -- but vocabulary loss, spatial disorientation or frequently misplacing objects and being unable to retrace their steps to find them, she said.
Dykes also recommends that they follow the same diet recommended for heart health. They should eat fruits and vegetables and focus on antioxidants.
"Those are foods that will keep your brain as healthy as it can be at that stage in life,” she said.
While medication only exists for early-stage dementia at this point, Kinner said she is optimistic about the future of Alzheimer’s research.
"We are at the tipping point of finding some effective treatments," she said.
