What to knew about risk factors during Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
“Alzheimer's And Brain Awareness Month" is declared each June by the Alzheimer's Association to help raise awareness about the disease, as well as show support for the millions of people worldwide living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.
This provides an opportunity to hold a conversation about the brain, and share the fact that Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are a major public health issue.
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Recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
A new CDC study examined the status of eight potential modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (high blood pressure, not meeting the aerobic physical activity guideline, obesity, diabetes, depression, current cigarette smoking, hearing loss, and binge drinking) among adults 45 years and older.
Some highlights of the study follow:
Nearly 50% had high blood pressure or did not meet the aerobic physical activity guideline.
Adults who reported cognitive decline were more likely to have at least 4 risk factors (34.3%) than those without cognitive decline (13.1%).
3.9% of adults with no risk factors reported cognitive decline while 25% with at least 4 risk factors reported cognitive decline.
Several modifiable risk factors were higher among African American, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaska Native populations than other races and ethnicities.
Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease link
During ageing, the prevalence of dementia doubles every 4 to 5 years after the age of 60 years. Indeed, more than 30% of subjects over 80 years old are likely to suffer from dementia.
Epidemiological data indicate that the most common cause of dementia in the elderly is Alzheimer's disease.
Furthermore, these data suggest that cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an increased risk of AD and its precursor clinical stage: mild cognitive impairment.
Some nutrition suggestions
The basic nutrition tips below from the Alzheimer’s Association can help boost the person with dementia's health and your health as a caregiver, too.
Provide a balanced diet with a variety of foods. Offer vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean protein foods.
Limit foods with high saturated fat and cholesterol. Some fat is essential for health — but not all fats are equal. Go light on fats that are bad for heart health, such as butter, solid shortening, lard and fatty cuts of meats.
Cut down on refined sugars. Often found in processed foods, refined sugars contain calories but lack vitamins, minerals and fiber. You can tame a sweet tooth with healthier options like fruit or juice-sweetened baked goods. But note that in the later-stages of Alzheimer's, if appetite loss is a problem, adding sugar to foods may encourage eating.
Limit foods with high sodium and use less salt. Most people in the United States consume too much sodium, which affects blood pressure. As an alternative, use spices or herbs to season food.
Loss of appetite, hydration
As the disease progresses, loss of appetite and weight loss may become concerns. In such cases, the doctor may suggest supplements between meals to add calories.
Staying hydrated may also be a problem. Encourage fluid intake by offering small
cups of water or other liquids throughout the day or foods with high water content,
such as fruit, soups, milkshakes and smoothies.
People with Alzheimer's or dementia do not need a special diet. As with anyone, eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet is important for overall health.
Additional information on making meals calm and comfortable, encouraging independence and minimizing eating and nutrition problems can be found in the Alzheimer’s link under Additional Information.
Additional information
Regular, nutritious meals may become a challenge for people living in the middle and late stages of Alzheimer’s. Food and Eating information from the Alzheimer’s Association is available at alz.org.
A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) focusing on eight potentially modifiable risk facors (Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias among Adults Aged ≥45 Years) is available at cdc.gov.
The Alzheimer’s Project provides comfort, support and assistance to persons with memory disorders and caregivers across the Big Bend area. Check out their website for more in-depth information, to volunteer or make a donation at alzheimersproject.org.
Mark A. Mahoney, Ph.D. has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 35 years and completed graduate studies in Nutrition & Public Health at Columbia University. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: What to know about risk factors during Alzheimer's Awareness Month
