Exercise and diet may prevent Alzheimer's

The Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER Study) suggested that following a healthy lifestyle with exercise and diet can even help in fighting mental decline, holding significant potential against Alzheimer's disease.

The study was led by Miia Kivipelto from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, involved 1,260 adults. It showed that exercise and diet have a major impact on the risk of an individual suffering from Alzheimer's disease at later stage of his life, Good News from Finland reported. (Read: Could a sleep disorder indicate Alzheimer's or Parkinson's?)

Study participants were between the age of 60 and 77 years, and were facing a risk of Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. The subjects were divided into two groups. One group was offered standard care while the other group was asked to undergo lifestyle and diet changes. (Read: Could you suffer from Alzheimer's in the future? Take this blood test to find out)

After two years, the group which underwent lifestyle changes showed improvement in cognitive function and performed better in memory tests. The speed test results were also found better for that group compared to those who underwent standard care.

Previous studies had observed lifestyle factors linked to slowing cognition and Alzheimer's. But Kivipelto said her study was the first randomised, placebo-controlled trial to show that this kind of programme can prevent cognitive decline.

What is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative mental disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. It is the most common form of dementia and is commonly seen in the elderly. While the chances of developing the disease increase with age, it is now seen that younger people are also now being diagnosed with the disease.

During the course of Alzheimer's disease, nerve cells in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought die due to plaque deposition. Symptoms include confusion, mood swings, impaired reasoning or judgement, long-term memory loss and a gradual loss of bodily functions.Dementia is the most prominently visible symptom. People with Alzheimer's begin to have problems recognising family and friends. They also find it exceptionally difficult to learn new things, carry out tasks that involve multiple steps (like getting dressed) and cope with new situations. They might suffer from insomnia. In the more severe stages of Alzheimer's disease, the brain completely shrinks and they become increasingly dependent on others.

With inputs from IANS

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