Q: My dad is showing signs of what you’d call cognitive impairment. Is it just old age or dementia or Alzheimer’s? No one knows for sure. If it is, what can I do to help him hold on to his abilities as long as possible? — Marty P., Columbus, Ohio A: There’s a lot going on in Alzheimer’s and dementia research these days. A study, partially funded by the National Institutes of Health, reports that there’s now a blood test that uses specific biomarkers to diagnose whether someone has Alzheimer’s disease with 90% accuracy. Up to now, doctors could only do a clinical evaluation along with a PET scan or spinal-fluid test to see if there were signs of Tau protein clumps or amyloid tangles that are associated with AD. Those evaluations lead to a diagnosis that’s accurate only about 73% of the time when they’re done in a specialty memory clinic and 61% of the time when done in a primary care office.
If AD is diagnosed, research now shows that a technique called therapeutic plasma exchange, which replaces a patient’s plasma with saline and purified albumin, can be used to slow down the progression of AD. It’s thought to work by diluting circulating blood proteins and reducing inflammatory cytokines and harmful toxins.
While these diagnostic and treatment approaches are still being explored, there are other ways you can help preserve your dad’s cognitive abilities. A diet that reduces the risk for Type 2 diabetes (which increases the risk for dementia by 60%) protects the brain from progressive cognition problems. That means eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, fatty fish, olive oil and nuts. Aerobic exercise also protects the brain. And yoga is linked to neuroprotection in older folks with mild cognitive impairment. Having a posse and a purpose can boost mood, problem-solving and enhance memory.
For more tips on preserving brain health, sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook. com and check out “The Impact of Lifestyle on Alzheimer’s Disease” at iHerb. com/blog.
