Strict diet, intellectual and physical activity, control of glycation and oxidation are at the heart of a strategy to prevent cognitive decline.
By modelling statistical data from meta-analyzes, researchers (1) estimated that about a third of Alzheimer’s cases could be attributed to potentially controllable risk factors.
The most important risk factors are:
– Low level of education.
– Physical inactivity.
– Toxic (smoking, pollution …).
– Metabolic syndrome (obesity).
– Depressed state.
Confirming these observations, the experience of standardized programs of physical and intellectual exercise in old people shows that an improvement in the loss of independence is possible (2).
These risk factors still need to be clarified – oxidation and glycation are at the forefront
While the mechanisms of action of some of these risk factors still need to be clarified – oxidation and glycation are at the forefront – a preventive strategy against cognitive decline (before the appearance of clinical signs of this cognitive decline) appears:
– Regular intellectual and physical exercises.
– Strict diet (no foods with high glycemic index, no browned products).
– Control of glycation and oxidation.
(1): S. Norton and Al. Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer’s disease: an analysis of population-based data. Lancet Neurol. 2014 Aug; 13(8):788-94
(2): D. Barnes and Al. Preventing loss of independence through exercise (PLIÉ): a pilot clinical trial in older adults with dementia. Aging Ment Health 2015, 19(4) 353-62.
Photo ; Olivia Knapp
