The World Health
Organization and the G8 Dementia Summit of 2013 have stressed the need for
prevention to stop the growing dementia epidemic. Thus the Finnish Geriatric
Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) did
a randomized controlled study to determine the impact of lifestyle intervention
to prevent cognitive decline in the at-risk elderly in the general population.
The study the first
randomized control study of its kind targeted multiple lifestyle factors,
including physical activity, diet, vascular risk factors, brain training and slowed
cognitive decline among older healthy individuals. The study showed that prevention
is the key in treating dementia.
"The FINGER study is
the first large-scale, long-term randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle
intervention and the first to demonstrate that multiple changes in lifestyle
can improve memory and thinking in older adults who are at risk for cognitive
decline.
The study included 1260
people, aged 60 to 77 years, from across Finland who were randomly assigned to
the intervention group or to the control group, who received regular health
advice only.
The participants had not yet
experienced substantial memory problems but were thought to be at risk for
cognitive impairment on the basis of a dementia risk score of 6 or more (on a
scale of 0 - 15) that considered age, gender, education, blood pressure,
cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity. They also underwent
cognitive testing; individuals with cognitive performance at the mean level or
slightly lower than expected for age according to Finnish population norms were
selected.
The intervention group focused
on 4 lifestyle changes such as:
§ Physical exercise with physiotherapists at a gym
consisting of individually tailored programs for progressive muscle strength
training (1 - 3 times per week) and aerobic exercise (2 - 5 times per week).
§ Nutritional advice based on the Finnish
Nutrition Recommendations from nutritionists (3 individual sessions and 7 - 9
group sessions)
§ Cognitive training (10 group sessions with a
trained psychologist and individual sessions consisting of computer-based
training conducted in 2 periods of 6 months each, with each period including 72
training sessions (3 times per week, 10 - 15 minutes per session).
§ Management of blood pressure, weight,
neuropsychological test battery (NTB), hip and waist circumference, physical
examinations, and recommendations for lifestyle management. The physicians used
in the study did not provide any medications.
At the
end of two years the cognitive tests were repeated and the intervention group
had a 25% improvement in the overall cognitive score compared with the control
group. The benefit was particularly noted in the person’s processing ability and
the speed at which an individual can conduct different brain and motor tasks. These
lifestyle changes are simple and can prevent many chronic diseases. Anything that challenges your brain such as memory
games, puzzles, problem-solving, time tests, learning a new skill also helps
prevent memory loss. Doing activities
that combine social, cognitive, and physical factors are the best such as
joining a group to learn a new language, attend a dance class, a hiking group
or a book group. Join the 50’s Club here in the Vail Valley.
In a Lancet study, researchers reported that one-third
of cases of Alzheimer disease worldwide could be attributable to low education,
low physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and
depression.
This
study suggests that worldwide prevalence of Alzheimer's disease could be
reduced by 8.3% by 2050 instead of increasing every year. Small changes can have major effects not just
with Alzheimer’s but all chronic disease. This study associates dementia with
coronary heart disease and diabetes because these are chronic diseases that can
be preventable.
Dr. Wiancek is a naturopathic doctor and
owner of the Riverwalk Natural Health Clinic & Pharmacy working in the
valley for seventeen years. She believes
we can all reach optimal health with dietart and lifetstyle changes. Her web-site Wiancek@healthref.com and to make an
appointment please call 970-926-7606.
