Alzheimer’s disease: Use It or Lose It
Alzheimer’s disease and recent research:
Recent research on
the development of Alzheimer's disease has suggested that in order to
prevent or inhibit it’s development, you should try to maintain an
enriched environment with as many stimulating activities as possible.
The issue of stimulation and Alzheimer's disease was studied at the
University of Chicago, where they found mice that lived in "enriched
environments" including chew toys, running wheels and tunnels that
help keep their brains and bodies active had lower levels of
Alzheimer's-associated brain plaques and protein buildup then mice
that lived in less stimulating environments. "This goes back to the
old idea of use it or lose it, that using your brain keeps it more
active. It's more common sense than anything, but what we didn't
previously appreciate is that it might affect the pathology that is
characteristic of Alzheimer's disease," researcher Sangram Sisodia
stated.
Alzheimer’s disease: The research
The University of
Chicago Alzheimer's disease research focused on mice that were
genetically engineered to mimic early-onset Alzheimer's disease in
humans which included clumps of amyloid proteins around brain cells.
Some of the mice were allowed to play in an "enriched environment"
while the others were placed in less active, less stimulating
environments.
Brain tissue
levels of toxic b-amyloid tangles or plaques, which are usually
associated with Alzheimer's disease, were markedly lower in mice with
more intellectually challenging environments than those playing in the
less stimulating environment according to researchers. Analysis of the
enzyme and protein expression of the mice living in the enriched
environments suggested they may be better equipped than the other
group of being able to clear the amyloid peptides usually associated
with Alzheimer’s disease out of their brains. These findings have
suggested that enriched environments may act as a protective factor
for mice by keeping the amyloid peptide levels low enough to prevent
them from clumping up and causing damage.
These researchers
have also suggested that physical activity may also be a factor in the
development of Alzheimer’s disease. The most physically active of the
mice also had the largest reductions in the b-amyloid peptides and
deposits. Researchers concluded that more studies need to be conducted
to provide conclusive information of exactly how enriched
environments benefit these animals. However, in the meantime, it
certainly is not a bad idea for aging humans to get more mentally and
physically active as a measure to possibly prevent or minimize the
effects of Alzheimer's disease. "It's all very important in keeping
the mind active and potentially staving off the effects of old age,"
Sisodia said.
Information from
Busy Minds May Slow Alzheimer’s - Yahoo News
Additional
Information and webpage by
Paul Susic
MA
Licensed Psychologist Ph.D. Candidate
(Health and Geriatric Psychologist)
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