Alan Lerner, director of brain and memory health research at University Hospitals Case Medical Centre in Cleveland, says that “health doesn’t always come in the form of a pill”. A study from Finland showed remarkable results when the combination of eating well, exercising, keeping mentally and socially engaged, and managing obesity were combined.
Yonas Geda, professor of neurology and psychiatry at the prestigious Mayo Clinic commented that “It keeps going back to the old advice from grandma!”
In the study, 1,260 people aged 60-77 were divided into two groups. One group followed the four healthy lifestyle factors listed above and the others were given standard care. The study lasted for two years. At the end of the two years the group paying extra attention to healthy eating, exercising, engagement and management of heart-health risk factors performed significantly better on memory and other cognitive abilities than the people having standard care. The researchers intend following these people for another seven years to see the extent to which the healthy lifestyle group continue to outstrip the control group in memory and brain ability tests.
Gelda also showed that exercise in midlife is protective against dementia decades later. People to simply take a stroll three times a week in their 50s and 60s were less likely to suffer memory problems in their 80s. This is so exciting – it is in our own hands, and we can do something simple to increase our own brain and memory health.
Gelda’s research also found the mental and social activities can reduce the risk of memory loss. It might be reading books, knitting, playing games with others, keeping abreast of current events, talking with others, or playing a musical instrument. The possibilities are endless. This is great news – physical and mental activities are accessible to everyone. In the study, participants learnt about memory and had access to brain training. You can do that, too. Visit the Brain and Memory Foundation website to find out what is available to you.
This is all news that should be shouted from the rooftops. We can do so much to prevent memory loss and even to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. The evidence continues to mount as study after study supports changes in lifestyle
Remember!
- Eat well and healthily
- Engage with others socially
- Engage in mental exercise – brain and memory training works!
- Aim for a healthy weight
- Physical exercise makes an enormous difference – take a stroll during the day
By Dr. Allison Lamont
Founder and memory consultant at the Christchurch Memory Clinic.
Stemming from my research into memory and aging, my sister Gillian Eadie and I have founded the Brain and Memory Foundation website. Click here to visit the website.