July 12, 2010

Although there is still a lot of mystery surrounding Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, three new studies are shedding a little more light on the subject.

At the Alzheimer’s Association ‘s International Conference in Honolulu, data was presented that showed three factors that can either mitigate or exacerbate risk of dementia:

*Levels of Vitamin D in the bloodstream
*Moderate tea drinking
*Moderate to heavy physical activity

“D” Doesn’t Stand for Dementia

As reported earlier in Food Consumer, the link between vitamin D and dementia is truly astounding.  In a study of 3,325 people aged 65 and older, those found with insufficient levels of vitamin D were 42% more likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Vitamin D levels were checked through blood testing, and cognition tests were subsequently given to study participants.  Patients with severely deficient levels of vitamin D were 394% more likely to have dementia.

Tea Consumption and Physical Exercise

Another study showed that regular tea drinkers were less likely to suffer from dementia.  4,800 people were studied for the analysis; those who drank tea 1-4 times a week had a 37% lower risk of disease than those who drank tea less often.

Participants taking part in the Framingham, MA cardiovascular risk study were found to have a 40% lowered risk of dementia if they engaged in regular, moderate to heavy physical activity.  Those who led sedentary lifestyles were 45% more likely to develop cognitive problems than those who exercised on a consistent basis.
Is it Alzheimer’s or Dementia?

Many people are confused about the differences between Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  According to WebMd, dementia is not a disease, but rather a set of symptoms affecting, memory, reasoning, and general cognitive function.  There are some definitive causes of dementia, including:

*Disease resulting in the loss of nerve cells in the brain, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s.
*Ailments affecting blood vessels, such as stroke
*Excessive alcohol or drug use
*Deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folate
*Infections that affect the brain and spinal cord
*Hydrocephalus, which is an accumulation of fluid in the brain resulting from tumors, infections, injury or developmental abnormalities
*Head injury from severe head trauma or smaller injuries that occur over and over again (think boxing)
*Diseases in the kidney, liver and lungs

Alzheimer’s is a factor in 60-80% of all cases of dementia, and is continuing to climb, primarily because of aging baby boomers, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.  Early signs of the disease are:

*Difficulty remembering names and recent events
*Apathy and depression

Later stages of the disease are marked by impaired judgment, disorientation, confusion, behavioral changes, and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.

The second most common form of dementia is referred to as vascular dementia; it’s caused by a decreased blood flow to parts of the brain.  In many instances, this condition is the result of a series of mini-strokes that can ultimately block the arteries.