Day 169: One thing I learned today…
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over five million individuals in America currently suffer from the disease, but this number is expected to increase by eleven million people by the year 2050.
What can help?
· Participation in social activities among the elderly has a neuro-protective effect, reducing the likelihood of cognitive impairment
· Physical activity helps improve cognitive function at any age, but it is especially important for brain health in older adults.
· Learning a new language or skill may help promote cognitive flexibility
· Creative hobbies, such as painting, dancing, or playing an instrument, may help reduce memory loss
· Practicing religion or spirituality has been positively associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline.
What steps are you taking?
Sources: IIN Brian Food
Alzheimer’s Association. (2019). 2019 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Retrieved from www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures-2019-r.pdf
Glei, D. A., Landau, D. A., Goldman, N., Chuang, Y. L., Rodriguez, G., & Weinstein, M. (2005). Participating in social activities helps preserve cognitive function: An analysis of a longitudinal, population-based study of the elderly. Int J Epidemiol 34(4), 864–871. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15764689
Phillips, C., Baktir, M. A., Srivatsan, M., & Salehi, A. (2014). Neuroprotective effects of physical activity on the brain: A closer look at trophic factor signaling. Front Cell Neurosci 8, 170. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24999318
Hosseini, S., Chaurasia, A., & Oremus, M. (2017). The effect of religion and spirituality on cognitive function: A systematic review. Gerontologist [epub ahead of print]. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28498999
Kharkhurin, A. V. (2017). Language mediated concept activation in bilingual memory facilitates cognitive flexibility. Front Psychol 8, 1067.
Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28701981
Verghese, J., Lipton, R. B., Katz, M. J., Hall, C. B., Derby, C. A., & Kuslansky, G....Buschke, H. (2003). Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly. N Engl J Med 348(25), 2508–2516. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12815136
Comments