There is new hope for high risk individuals.
Recent research reveals that adopting a set of healthy lifestyle habits can effectively preserve brain function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia.
According to findings published on June 7 in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, approximately 71% of patients who adhered to healthy eating, regular exercise, and stress management experienced either stable or improved dementia symptoms without resorting to medication. In contrast, only about 68% of patients in a control group, who did not make these lifestyle changes, saw a worsening of their symptoms.
Moreover, researchers observed a direct correlation between the extent of lifestyle changes and the degree of cognitive improvement. This marks the first instance where lifestyle modifications have shown tangible impact on the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Lead researcher Dr. Dean Ornish, founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, expressed cautious optimism about the findings, stating that while there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s, these discoveries offer renewed hope and choices for those affected by the disease.
Participants in the study reported remarkable personal transformations. One individual mentioned that whereas it previously took him weeks to finish reading a book, he could now accomplish this feat in just a few days while retaining most of the information. Another participant, a former business executive, regained the ability to manage his finances effectively, restoring a sense of self-worth and identity.
The study involved 51 individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia, randomly assigned to either a lifestyle change group or a control group. The lifestyle change group underwent an intensive program comprising a whole-foods, plant-based diet, regular exercise, stress management techniques, and support groups for patients and their partners.
After 20 weeks, significant differences were observed between the lifestyle change group and the control group, both in terms of brain function and blood-based biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Notably, amyloid levels, a key biomarker, improved in the lifestyle group but worsened in the control group, particularly among those who adhered more consistently to the lifestyle changes.
These lifestyle interventions also positively impacted the participants’ gut microbiome, reducing organisms linked to Alzheimer’s risk while increasing those with potential protective effects.
Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, director of the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, underscored the urgent need for effective Alzheimer’s treatments, highlighting the high cost and limited efficacy of existing medications compared to the positive outcomes achieved through lifestyle changes.
Discussion about this post