Senile dementia: start later and get rid of it faster

Intellectual activity accelerates the course of senile dementiaCopper news
American scientists have found that intellectual activity accelerates the course of senile dementia, reports Newswise (Brain Exercises May Slow Cognitive Decline Initially, But Speed Up Dementia Later).

The study was conducted by a team of specialists led by Robert S. Wilson from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. A report on their work is published in the journal Neurology (R. S. Wilson et al., Cognitive activity and the cognitive morbidity of Alzheimer's disease).

The researchers assessed the mental activity of 1,157 volunteers over the age of 65, who had no symptoms of senile dementia before the start of the study. During the study, which lasted more than 11 years, scientists measured the level of cognitive activity of its participants every three years. This indicator was evaluated on a five–point scale, where 5 is the maximum value. In particular, the researchers paid attention to watching TV shows by volunteers, reading, solving crosswords, visiting museums.

(It is curious how the researchers evaluated each hour of watching a zombie movie: did they add points to the level of cognitive activity or subtract them? – VM. :)

During the first six years of follow-up, 395 study participants developed an intellectual disorder of moderate severity. In addition, 148 people were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

At the end of the study, the researchers found that in healthy volunteers, each score of cognitive activity slowed the annual decline in mental abilities by 52 percent. In patients with moderate intelligence disorder, cognitive activity did not affect the decline in intelligence, and in patients with Alzheimer's disease, each cognitive activity score accelerated the decline in intelligence by 42 percent.

Wilson noted that intellectual activity allows you to delay the onset of senile dementia, but accelerates its course. As a result, the overall life expectancy with dementia in a particular patient is reduced.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru03.09.2010