Los Angeles Times: With Recent Advances, It's 'a Very Exciting Time' for Dementia Researchers
The Los Angeles Times recently interviewed Zaldy Tan, MD, MPH, medical director of the Jona Goldrich Center for Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders at Cedars-Sinai, about new research showing that healthy lifestyle interventions may improve cognitive function in people at risk of developing dementia. The news comes amid overall progress in diagnosing and treating the disease.
The new study followed 2,000 adults with dementia risk factors—such as family history, cardiovascular disease and a sedentary lifestyle—who made lifestyle changes that lasted for two years. These included 30 minutes of aerobic activity four times a week, strength and flexibility training twice a week, and 30-minute cognitive exercises three times a week. Participants also followed a version of the Mediterranean diet that included eating berries, leafy vegetables and whole grains, while limiting fried food, processed food, red meat and cheese.
Although only one group of participants had a coach, the cognitive function of all participants improved.
Tan, who was not involved in the study, told the Los Angeles Times that the combination of interventions “seems to be delaying the rate of brain aging,” but cautioned that individuals wouldn’t gain the boost in brain health without committing to the complete program.
“The devil is in the details,” said Tan, the Carmen and Louis Warschaw Chair in Neurology and director of the Bernard and Maxine Platzer Lynn Family Memory and Healthy Aging Program. “People with blood pressure of 145 over 95 might be told by their primary care physician … that’s fine … just exercise more.”
However, Tan said people should aim for a blood pressure of 120 over 80, which requires more intense exercise than just a walk in the park.
Read the complete article from the Los Angeles Times.