Senile Dementia

It may not be inevitable

Given the universal human desire to avoid senile dementia, often called Alzheimer's Disease, all of us are delighted to learn that there are actually some effective preventive measures.

We've known for several years that ibuprofen seems to offer some protection, as does taking estrogen. Fairly recent studies reveal that the statins, those (now) ubiquitous cholesterol lowering agents can also reduce the incidence of dementia. Perhaps we should say, "-delay the onset of dementia by several years." If we live long enough, just about all of us will lose some portion of our cognitive abilities. We will become demented!

For a number of years, proponents of "anti-oxidant" food supplements have been telling us that use of their pet products will delay aging in general, and dementia in particular. This is just about all theory with no real scientific proof. (In fact, the current issue of the publication Nature reports on an experiment in which this form of "therapy" was of no value in preventing changes due to aging.) For those who take such supplements, it is safe to say that although they probably don't do any good, they also don't do much real harm, except in the region of the wallet.

Life style factors, including education level and exposure to stimulating environments and activities (including but not necessarily limited to bingo and crossword puzzles) may be associated with delayed onset of memory loss for those who participate. And don't forget - if your parents lived past 80 with no signs of cognitive impairment, you stand a great chance of doing the same or better. Some form of regular exercise, typically just walking, puts money in your good-health bank.

One of the most recent "discoveries" pertaining to dementia is the benefit of controlling the same factors which cause coronary artery disease (heart attacks and angina). This is hardly earth-shaking news. After all, attention to factors that will improve circulation should improve the function of anything with a blood supply, including the brain. If not exactly earth-shaking, this news is certainly comforting. We all do better in all ways with lower blood pressure, lower blood fats, NO cigarette smoking, more exercise, and a better diet.

In the dietary portion of this investigation, it was shown that a routine with "plenty of fruits and vegetables and hardly any RED meat" was the ticket to success. Attention to all of you nutritionist wannabees: No mention was made of supplements of any sort, including vitamins, kelp, herbs, or ginseng. Human nutrition is not that hard to manage. A steak once in a while will do no real harm, and for the Atkins aficionados, carbohydrates are not inherently bad. Everything necessary for an excellent diet can be purchased at any of millions of super-markets, or corner grocery stores in the world.

Thus, we have the spinoff benefit of reduced driving (and less air pollution). You don't have to go to the health food store, the vitamin store, the Chinese herb store, or the gym!

Senile dementia is a terrible occurrence. It is difficult to find fault with those who don't feel safe without a belt and suspenders, as in, "So the vitamins may not be proven effective yet, I'll keep right on taking them, thank you very much!"

The editor of this web-site is a participant in a long term study to determine whether supplemental vitamins have any effect at all on several outcomes of human health, including onset of dementia. The pills he takes each AM could be vitamins or cleverly disguised placebos. Neither he nor his wife nor the mangers of the study know specifically whether or not he is in the active drug group. That information is locked in a safe somewhere in Boston, and will be made available when the study is concluded. We can then decide the question: "Is he so clever because he is taking some pills, or is it just luck?"

(Perhaps "clever" is not the right word.)