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| Yellow Leaves by Melina Meza |
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive neuro-degenerative disease that is characterized by severe memory loss, unusual behavior, personality changes and a decline in thinking abilities. Death of neurons in key parts of the brain harms memory, thinking, and behavior. Neuronal death in the hippocampus area of the brain triggers short-term memory failure, and often the person's ability to do familiar tasks begins to decline as well. Alzheimer's disease also attacks areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for functions such as language and reasoning. Thus AD patients gradually lose language skills and judgment. Personality changes, emotional outbursts and disturbing behavior, such as wandering and agitation, appear and can happen more and more often as the disease runs its course. People with AD eventually require comprehensive care, so the disease presents a considerable problem in patient management. It is believed that therapeutic intervention that could postpone the onset or progression of Alzheimer’s disease would dramatically reduce the number of cases over the next 50 years.
While mutated genes may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's, scientific evidence shows that genes are neither necessary nor sufficient to cause the disease. Environmental as well as life-style practices may also contribute to the disease progression. There is growing evidence that an epidemic of AD may be around the corner and people are rightly concerned, since it threatens to spike in prevalence as the population steadily ages. The significant growth in the population over age 85 that is estimated to occur between 2010 and 2030 (from 5 million to 9 million) suggests a substantial increase in the number of people with Alzheimer's. AD affects over 5 million Americans--there is neither a cure, nor treatment to halt the progression of symptoms. The drugs currently available to treat the disease address only its symptoms and with very limited effectiveness.
Most of us can avoid the mind ravaging effects of AD by making healthy changes in lifestyle, remaining active, achieving ideal weight, reducing stress, and in some cases, supplementing with a diet, vitamins, herbs and/or nutraceuticals that are recommended to you by a physician or licensed practitioner. The brain, like muscles in the body, requires exercise to remain strong in function. Stimulation of the brain increases the branching of brain cells that support cognitive function, and these beneficial effects can be seen in people of all ages. Thus, it is important to pursue intellectually challenging activity throughout life. Maintaining mental agility and learning new tasks as we age is will also contribute to our own well-being and independence. This was clearly articulated by Baxter in his post The Importance of Independence and Nina in her post What is Healthy Aging, Anyway? as they defined healthy aging.
Meanwhile here’s some good news for us yogis with regard to AD. A new pilot study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center suggests that the brain changes associated with meditation and stress reduction may play an important role in slowing the progression of age-related cognitive disorders including Alzheimer's disease. The authors of a new research article demonstrated that stress reduction through meditation also improves cognitive reserve.
Approximately 50 percent of people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment—the intermediate stage between the expected declines of normal aging and the more serious cognitive deterioration associated with dementia—may develop dementia within five years. Additionally, as people with mild cognitive impairment age, there's a high correlation between perceived stress and AD. The authors wished to know if meditation reversed this process. They evaluated adults between the ages of 55 and 90 and included 14 adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in the study. All participants were randomized to two groups: one group that participated in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) using meditation and yoga, and a second control group that received normal care. The study group met for two hours each week for eight weeks. They also participated in a day-long mindfulness retreat and were encouraged to continue their home-practice for 15 to 30 minutes per day. All participants underwent a functional MRI (fMRI) before the onset of the study and then again after eight weeks to determine if there were any changes in the structures of the brain or in brain activity.
The results of MRI imaging showed that the group that engaged in MBSR had significantly improved functional connectivity in the hippocampal areas of the brain that is responsible for emotions, learning and memory. Furthermore, those who practiced MBSR experienced less degeneration of the hippocampus. In addition, the data also suggested a trend toward improvement for measures of cognition and well-being.
What a cheap but effective method to reduce hippocampal degeneration and improve functional connectivity in the same areas of the brain that is affected by Alzheimer's disease! Meditation and yoga are some of the simplest intervention modalities with very little downside that may provide real promise for AD individuals that have very few treatment options. In addition to beneficial changes in the brain, yoga and meditation will stimulate the three aspects of healthy aging namely: decreased morbidity, independence and mental equilibrium (equanimity). Indeed, a very good deal!!
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