According to a new, long-term research study by neurological experts at the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center, both African-American and white older patients with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment have an increased risk of mortality.  Research results were published in the June 2009 issue of Archives of Neurology.

Alzheimer’s disease has emerged as a leading cause of death in the United States, and it substantially reduces life expectancy in those diagnosed with the disease. To date, there have been relatively few population-based studies of survival rates in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and its precursor, mild cognitive impairment.  Because these studies have primarily focused on the disease and its impact on white persons, little is known about survival rates in African Americans.

The results of the study conducted by Rush suggest that compared to people without cognitive impairment, risk of death was increased by about 50 percent among those with mild cognitive impairment and was nearly three-fold greater among those with Alzheimer’s disease. These effects were seen among African Americans and whites and did not differ by race. Read more about the study here….

In recent years scientists have become intensely interested in what could be called a super memory club. At a retirement community in Southern California fewer than one in 200 persons out of 20,000 are living past 90 without a trace of dementia. It is a group that, for the first time, is large enough to provide a glimpse into the lucid brain at the furthest reach of human life, and to help researchers tease apart what is essential in preserving mental sharpness to the very end. Read this fascinating article at the New York Times online

There are many memory disorders and it can be difficult to understand the differences. I am asked the question all the time “What are the different type of memory loss?” Let me offer a very brief summary here…..

• Normal memory loss: Everybody’s brain ages. As the connections and chemicals in the brain alter with time, many people forget things like names, keys or what the they went in the next room for. This is fairly normal, and does not automatically lead to deterioration if a person is leading a brain healthy lifestyle overall.
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI): Problems with memory, language, or other problem solving functions may be noticeable to others but they may not yet interfere with daily life activities. For example, a person continually loses their keys and forget a neighbor’s names however, they can still pay bills and do their regular shopping. The presence of MCI often shows up on professionally administered screening tests. It is thought that 1 in 5 people over 70 have MCI.  Some develop Alzheimer’s disease later on and others do not.
• Early stage Alzheimer’s disease: In addition to pronounced memory problems (perhaps forgetting what happened yesterday or forgetting major news events), there can be cognitive troubles such as the inability count backward by 7s, becoming confused while planning meals or managing finances or occasionally even getting lost in the neighborhood. This condition can be diagnosed through testing and a complete medical exam to rule out other potential problems.
• Mid and Late Alzheimer’s disease: This always follows in progression after early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, there are no improvements known, only periods of stabilization with remediation and gradual decline.
• Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease: This is different from early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Early-onset Alzheimer’s starts before age 65, thus the name.
• Dementia: Dementia is not a disease itself, but a set of symptoms including memory loss, cognitive problems, and other effects of deteriorating brain function. Alzheimer’s disease is one form of dementia. Other forms include vascular dementia (caused by very small strokes) and Lewy Body Dementia (of which Parkinson’s Disease Dementia is a subset).
• Senile dementia: This is an old fashioned term that usually refers to what we now call Alzheimer’s disease.

It is also important to note that there can be other causes of memory loss, some of which may just be temporary: These include depression, stress, insomnia, alcoholism, brain tumors, medications, or many other conditions.

Last week I spoke with Adrian Berg of the Longevity Club Radio Show about the HAPPYneuron cross training program, the history of brain science, the impact of technology on the effectiveness of the program and the resulting cognitive health benefits for life.  Listen on (about 5 minutes into the show).

Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. The most common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which initially involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Although scientists are learning more every day, right now they still do not know what causes AD, and there is no cure.

In this Time/CNN article, Walter Kukull, director of the U.S. National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center explains how researchers could reduce people’s risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. In this brief yet informative interview, he talks about genetics, drug discovery, and mitigating diseases. Read more about it here…

Here’s an article in the New York Times that suggests ways to improve our thinking. Learning new material, yoga, aerobic exercise and caffeine are all mentioned as ways to stay sharp and in tune. In addition, there’s a link to another article that explains what mental status tests are, how they are performed and what the results mean. Click here for more….

I thought to share with you a recent interview with Founder Dr. Bernard Croisile, Neurologist, Neuropsychologist and Happy Neuron’s Chief Scientist, about age related brain decline and what can be done.

As we age, what issues do people most complain about?

When we age, certain cognitive difficulties are usually more annoying than really hindering. These difficulties are usually due to a greater sensitivity to interferences (noise, conversations with several persons), a lesser attention and greater amount of time to simultaneously analyze several pieces of informations (cooking and understanding a slightly technical conversation at the same time). Information processing is often more superficial, organizing and sorting data to be memorized occurs more slowly and producing mental images becomes more difficult. Hence, it can become more difficult to remember information and it takes more time to recall memories (names) or recent events (e.g. the reason why you actually went into a room).

Why should cognitive abilities be trained?

By training cognitive abilities, the difficulties we sometimes painfully experience in everyday life can be corrected. Studies have also shown that rich and varied cognitive stimulation can delay onsets of age related decline and Alzheimer’s Disease by a number years. Cognitive training consists of reinforcing brain plasticity which forms new connections between brain neurons, strengthens neural networks and, as scientists have recently discovered, regenerate new neural pathways.

How can cognitive functions be trained?

For a start, simple things such as having a rich social life, reading, doing crosswords or playing cards, cooking or gardening, already constitute natural and effective stimulation situations. Most important are variety, enthusiasm and motivation. However, one should be aware that cognitive functions cannot be trained like leg muscles. Even if playing bridge stimulates long-term memory for game rules and crosswords train word memory (spelling, definitions), playing cards will not help anyone find their keys or their car! It is therefore necessary to train all aspects of cognitive functions, especially those neglected by the routine of hobbies we are accustomed to. It should also added that training can only relevant when the lessons learned are applied to everyday life.

How often should one perform focused brain exercises?

We advise two to three training sessions a week, of about 45 minutes each, in order to maintain interest and alertness. Variety and frequency are most important.

When should one start worrying and see a doctor?

Memory difficulties occur at any age and under any circumstances: remembering a surname or a recipe, finding one’s glasses… These difficulties are just ordinary consequences of normal aging or of a fragile emotional state. Difficulties to concentrate are often due to anxiety, depression and stress. However, when aging, cultural knowledge and automatic movements (riding a bike, playing tennis, driving a car…) are not forgotten. Many of our actions are also often automatic, which explains the fact that one cannot always remember properly whether they have locked their door or not.

One should start worrying , as soon as these difficulties become a real handicap in daily life and occur repeatedly, such as people who cannot manage their schedule or budget any more, who always get lost and systematically forget what they have been told. In such a situation, one should seek medical advice to decide whether the person needs to see a neurologist or a geriatrician.

Thank you Dr. Croisile.

Overindulging during the Thanksgiving holidays? Don’t feel guilty because many of the foods we eat during the festivities contain significant amounts of antioxidants. Turkey, cranberries, stuffing and even hot cocoa can deliver benefits to your brain. Read the article in Psychology Today and reach for the leftovers!

Stress is the condition or feeling experienced when the demands pressing upon an individual exceed the personal coping skills and social resources he or she can mobilize. As we all know, stress plays a prominent role in our daily lives, generally evoking negative associations. Aside from being associated with heart disease, a weak immune system, headaches and sleepless nights, stress is also associated with mental health problems.

There is considerable evidence that cognitive performance changes when we are under stress. In the short term, acute stress can serve to enhance some types of mental functioning, an aspect of the “Flight or Fight” scenario posed by William James over 100 years ago. However, unrelieved chronic stress can produce deleterious cognitive changes including problems with thinking, memory, concentration and behavior. These changes can influence many parts of our lives, such as our ability to work or even to complete everyday tasks (i.e. driving, cooking, taking care of others).

Symptoms of stress also include depression of intellectual functioning, cognitive distortions and misinterpretations of situations, events and interpersonal exchanges (Beck, A. T., & Clark, D. A., 1997). In addition, people that are overstressed may have ruminative and unproductive patterns of thinking and indecisiveness. They worry and anticipate that “something bad” will happen and fear that they are losing control. They become distractible, impatient, and easily irritated. Further, memory can be impaired (Newcomer J.W. et al., 1999) and there is a tendency to engage in negative, unrealistic and pessimistic thinking patterns. Take stress seriously!

Certain foods can increase your brain power and can keep you living healthier and longer. And since the brain is a hungry organ in the sense that it is metabolically active, we need to feed it with the right foods for optimal performance. Here are 4 tips for an intelligent diet.

1. Water
Our brains are about 80 percent water, so the first rule of brain nutrition is adequate water intake to hydrate your brain. Even slight dehydration can raise stress hormones, which in turn can damage your brain over time. Also, water makes up 83% of human blood and acts as a transport system, delivering nutrients to the brain and eliminating toxins. Water is essential for concentration and mental alertness.

2. Antioxidants
A number of studies have shown that dietary intake of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables significantly reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment (Zandi, P. et al., Arch Neurol 2004; 61:82-88). Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. In normal amounts free radicals work to rid the body of harmful toxins, thereby keeping it healthy. When produced in toxic amounts, free radicals damage the body’s cellular machinery, resulting in cell death and tissue damage. The US Department of Agriculture suggest the following fruits and vegetables: blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, spinach, raspberries, Brussel sprouts, plums, broccoli, beets, avocados, oranges, red grapes, red bell peppers, cherries and kiwis. Also, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Beta Carotene inhibit the production of free radicals.

3. Omega-3 fatty acids
DHA, one form of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, makes up a large portion of the gray matter of the brain. The fat in your brain forms cell membranes and plays a vital role in how our cells function. Neurons are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Research in the last few years has revealed that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help promote a healthy emotional balance and positive mood in later years (Parker, G. et al., 2006), possibly because DHA is a main component of the brain’s synapses. Lack of omega-3 fats in your diet can lead to depression, poor memory, low IQ, learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADD and many more mental disorders (National Institute of Health Conference (1998): “Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids & Psychiatric Disorders”). Omega-3 fatty acids are found in salmon, sardines, herring, and walnuts.

4. Proteins
Proteins are essential to make neurotransmitters, which are vital for the thinking process. Further, protein provides the building blocks for most of the body’s tissues, nerves, and internal organs (including brain and heart). Protein is found in meat, fish, milk and cheese. Try to eat a protein-based lunch to optimize your mental performance and alertness throughout the day.