Celebrating National Senior Citizens Day

A Focus on Preventing Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Every August 21st, we celebrate National Senior Citizens Day, a day dedicated to honoring the achievements, wisdom, and contributions of our elderly population. As we pay tribute to the older generation, it’s important to also focus on their well-being, particularly when it comes to preventing and managing conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia

The National Institute on Aging defines Alzheimer’s disease as a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer’s accounts for the majority of dementia cases, affecting millions of seniors worldwide. Dementia is not a normal part of aging, but age is the greatest known risk factor for the development of it. Although age is a risk factor that cannot be mitigated, other risk factors can. By taking time to better understand the probable causes, incorporate taking preventive measures, and exploring early detection methods we are making steady progress in the fight against these debilitating conditions.

Causes and Risk Factors

While the exact cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown, several factors may contribute to its development:

1. Age: The risk of Alzheimer’s increases significantly after the age of sixty-five.
2. Genetics: Family history and genetics play a role, particularly in early-onset Alzheimer’s.
3. Lifestyle and Heart Health: Conditions that damage the heart or blood vessels, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.
4. Head Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries have been associated with a higher risk of dementia.

Preventive Measures

The Alzheimer’s Association offers that evidence is strong people can reduce their risk of developing the disease by making key lifestyle changes. Their 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain (a collection of tips that can reduce the risk of cognitive decline) includes: 

• Challenge your mind – Be curious! Put your brain to work and do something that is new for you. Learn a new skill. Try something artistic. Challenging your mind may have short- and long-term benefits for your brain.
• Stay in school – Education reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Encourage youth to stay in school and pursue the highest level of training possible. Continue your own education by taking a class at a local library or college, or online.
• Get moving – Engage in regular exercise. This includes activities that raise your heart rate and increase blood flow to the brain and body. Find ways to build more movement into your day — walking, dancing, gardening — whatever works for you!
• Protect your head – Help prevent an injury to your head. Wear a helmet for activities like biking and wear a seatbelt. Protect yourself while playing sports. Do what you can to prevent falls, especially for older adults.
• Be smoke-free – Quitting smoking can lower the risk of cognitive decline back to levels similar to those who have not smoked. It’s never too late to stop.
• Control your blood pressure – Medications can help lower high blood pressure. And healthy habits like eating right and physical activity can help, too. Work with a health care provider to control your blood pressure.
• Manage diabetes – Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or controlled by eating healthier, increasing physical activity, and taking medication, if necessary.
• Eat right – Eating healthier foods can help reduce your risk of cognitive decline. This includes more vegetables and leaner meats/proteins, along with foods that are less processed and lower in fat. Choose healthier meals and snacks that you enjoy and are available to you.
• Maintain a healthy weight – Talk to your health care provider about the weight that is healthy for you. Don’t overlook that other healthy habits on this list — eating right, exercising, and sleeping well — can also help with maintaining a healthy weight.
• Sleep well – Quality sleep is important for brain health. Stay off screens before bed and make your sleep space as comfortable as possible. Do all you can to minimize disruptions. If you have any sleep-related problems, such as sleep apnea, talk to a health care provider.

Early Detection and Testing

Alzheimer’s and dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, research on new strategies for earlier diagnosis is among the most active areas in Alzheimer’s science, and funding from the Alzheimer’s Association has spurred significant advances and steady progress. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is currently supporting 507 active clinical trials on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD).

Medical Advances

When working toward an official diagnosis, healthcare professionals rely on a variety of tests. Among the most significant advances include such as:

1. Medical History and Biomarkers: Doctors review the patient’s medical history, and several potential biomarkers are being studied for their ability to indicate early stages of the disease (but these studies take time and results are yet to be validated).
2. Cognitive and Neuropsychological Tests: These tests evaluate memory, critical thinking skills, attention, language, and other cognitive abilities.
3. Brain Imaging/Neuroimaging: MRI and CT scans can identify changes in the brain’s structure, while PET scans can detect other indicators. Molecular imaging is also used to detect cellular and/or chemical changes linked to specific diseases. 
4. Blood Tests: Researchers are continuing the development of blood tests to detect biomarkers related to Alzheimer’s which may allow for earlier and less invasive diagnosis in the future. But an urgent need still exists to secure FDA approval and when available, are inexpensive and non-invasive.
5. Genetic Risk Profiling: Genetic testing has made considerable progress by identifying three genes with rare variations that cause Alzheimer’s; however the testing has not proven consistent, and a worldwide effort is ongoing to make this methodology more dependable.

The Road Ahead

There is still much work to be done to raise awareness, identify treatment, and find a cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia. If you are interested in supporting any of these efforts, there are a variety of ways to help. Visit the “Get Involved” section of the Alzheimer’s Association website to find out how. By promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging early detection, and advocating for more research, we can work together towards a future where the impact of these diseases is significantly reduced. So let’s honor our senior citizens not just today, but every day, by ensuring they receive the care, respect, and love they deserve.