Remember Memory: Can you prevent Dementia?
Welcome to my new series, Remember Memory. In this series, we will explore ways to prevent dementia, what to do if you are diagnosed, and research in memory care.
New studies are being conducted on a regular basis on the cause of dementia, medications, therapies, and ways to prevent dementia. There is still no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s, but there may be ways to prevent cognitive decline as you age.
In the article: SPRINT MIND Results: What’s Good for the Heart is Good for the Brain,
your blood pressure is a precursor to dementia and other cognitive issues.
In adults with increased risk for cardiovascular disease but without diabetes, treating to a systolic blood pressure (BP) target less than 120 mmHg, as compared to a target of less than 140 mmHg, may reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the combined risk of MCI and dementia, according to preliminary results from the SPRINT MIND trial presented June 25 at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago.
A substudy of the SPRINT trial – which randomized patients to either a standard group, with a target of less than 140 mm Hg, or an intensive-treatment group, with a target of less than 120 mm Hg – SPRINT MIND looked at 9,361 hypertensive older adults with increased cardiovascular risk but without diagnosed diabetes, dementia or stroke.
Results showed that at one year, mean systolic BP was 121.4 mmHg in the intensive-treatment group and 136.2 mmHg in the standard group. There was a “significantly lower rate” of adjudicated incident MCI and a “non-significant reduction” in the primary outcome of probable dementia. Secondary outcomes of a combined outcome of MCI plus probable dementia was significantly lower in the intensive vs. standard treatment group.
Research is also showing that the majority of dementia diagnosis are due to vascular episodes in the brain; strokes and cardiovascular disease that leave scar tissue on the brain. With some of these episodes leading to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Some studies have shown that cognitive exercises can provide improvement in cognition and in some cases, people can lead normal lives.
#memorycare, #longtermcare, #assisted living, #Alzheimer’s, #dementia, #remembermemory, memorycareprogramming, #aging
Heather Reynolds is a Certified Alzheimer’s Practitioner Trainer and the Director of the Namaste Memory Care at Crescent Senior Living.
