Can older people who exercise regularly lessen their risk of dementia and enhance their overall health?
Exercise and the Prevention of Dementia
Dementia, a term used to cover several conditions that impact memory and cognition, is currently the seventh leading cause of mortality worldwide. (World Health Organization, 2025) More than 10 million new cases of dementia are found around the world each year. (J.H. Yoon et al., 2023) Research investigating the relationship between exercise and insulin in the brain suggests that regular exercise may improve brain function and decrease the prevalence of dementia. Scientists have discovered that variables, such as.
Muscles must be exercised and mobilized. People who do not engage in physical activity have rigid muscles, which impede the effectiveness of insulin. The body’s sensitivity to insulin is improved by the contraction and relaxation of the muscles during movement. Dementia can be prevented by understanding how to decrease the body’s insulin resistance.
Physical Activity and Lower Risk
Over two weeks, researchers examined 21 older adults with prediabetes and found that exercise enhances cognitive performance by aiding the brain in insulin regulation. They conducted twelve supervised training sessions of moderate to extreme intensity. (Malin S. K. et al., 2025)
The results indicated that brain-derived extracellular vesicles containing insulin-related proteins had significantly increased.
These microscopic messengers are essential for brain maintenance and aid in neuronal communication.
Three serine/threonine-specific protein kinases known as AKT (protein kinase B, or PKB) are essential for several cellular functions, such as cell growth, survival, metabolism, and cell cycle control.
The protein affects the development and health of neuronal cells and is thought to play a significant role in insulin signaling.
The notion that exercise might help prevent dementia by potentially enhancing insulin signaling is important since poor insulin response can result in dementia.
Even while further research is needed, these findings prove that physical activity could be a cost-effective and easily accessible way to improve long-term brain health. To better understand how insulin affects brain activity, researchers will use MRIs and an insulin spray in the study’s next phase. To learn more about the effects of the insulin spray, they will compare the blood flow in the brain before and after it is administered.
Insulin and Exercise Are Essential for Brain Health
Insulin is a hormone that the pancreas makes. It controls blood sugar levels. But it’s just as vital for the health of the brain. Insulin binds to many receptors in the brain, which makes synaptic connections stronger and makes it easier for neurons to talk to each other. Both of these things help with memory and learning. (Gray, S. M., Meijer, R. I., & Barrett, E. J. 2014)
Type 2 diabetes, which impairs insulin transmission, increases the risk of cognitive impairment. (Yoon J.H. et al., 2023) Research has demonstrated that insulin resistance exacerbates tau tangles and amyloid-beta plaques, which are two critical characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease. (Hong, S., Han, K., & Park, C. Y. 2021) Increasing insulin sensitivity may slow down or even stop these changes in the brain. Working out, especially aerobic exercise, is good for the brain. According to earlier research, exercise can help people maintain or enhance their memory and brain function. (Rosenberg A. et al., 2020) Other ways to increase brain health include:
Maintaining social interaction
Challenging the mind
Getting a good night’s sleep
Controlling stress
A nutritious diet
Maintaining an active lifestyle
Controlling diabetes
Controlling blood pressure
To achieve the greatest possible effect, dementia prevention in the future will likely involve integrating lifestyle modifications, such as exercise, with medications. In individuals with diabetes or prediabetes, the risk of dementia is significantly reduced, and frequent exercise can assist in the preservation of optimal brain function.
Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic
As a family nurse practitioner, Dr. Jimenez uses the latest medical expertise and chiropractic therapy to address many problems. Our clinic uses functional medicine, acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and sports medicine to create individualized care plans that improve movement, encourage long-term health, and speed up the body’s natural healing process. We focus on strength, agility, and flexibility to help our patients thrive, regardless of age or health problems. At El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we want to help people with chronic pain syndromes and injuries. We focus on improving flexibility, mobility, and agility through programs suitable for people of all ages and abilities. We ensure that each patient gets personalized care and reaches their health objectives through detailed care plans and health coaching in person and online.
Is Movement Essential to Recovery?
References
World Health Organization. (2025). “Dementia.” World Health Organization. from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact sheets/detail/dementia#:~:text=Alzheimer%20disease%20is%20the%20most,60%E2%80%9370%25%20of%20cases.
Yoon, J. H., Hwang, J., Son, S. U., Choi, J., You, S. W., Park, H., Cha, S. Y., & Maeng, S. (2023). How Can Insulin Resistance Cause Alzheimer’s Disease?. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(4), 3506. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043506
Malin, S. K., Battillo, D. J., Beeri, M. S., Mustapic, M., Delgado-Peraza, F., & Kapogiannis, D. (2025). Two weeks of exercise alters neuronal extracellular vesicle insulin signaling proteins and pro-BDNF in older adults with prediabetes. Aging cell, 24(1), e14369. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.14369
Gray, S. M., Meijer, R. I., & Barrett, E. J. (2014). Insulin regulates brain function, but how does it get there?. Diabetes, 63(12), 3992–3997. https://doi.org/10.2337/db14-0340
Hong, S., Han, K., & Park, C. Y. (2021). The insulin resistance by triglyceride glucose index and risk for dementia: population-based study. Alzheimer’s research & therapy, 13(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-020-00758-4
Rosenberg, A., Mangialasche, F., Ngandu, T., Solomon, A., & Kivipelto, M. (2020). Multidomain Interventions to Prevent Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Dementia: From FINGER to World-Wide FINGERS. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, 7(1), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2019.41
Approximately 5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one of the most common types of dementia, worldwide. A variety of factors can increase the risk of developing other types of dementia and AD, including poor diet and lifestyle habits. Research studies have also shown that treating the body as a whole may help prevent and, in several cases, even reverse cognitive decline. The goal is to start treatment immediately. In the following article, we will ultimately discuss how a functional medicine approach can help improve AD and other types of dementia.
Dementia and Alzheimer�s Disease Overview
Our brain is a complex organ made-up of about 100 billion neurons that are constantly communicating with each other. Also known as brain cells or nerve cells, neurons play a fundamental role in our cognitive function, including memory, thinking, and learning. Neurons are constantly repairing themselves, especially during sleep, but when brain cells or nerve cells can’t repair themselves, due to a variety of factors, it can ultimately affect cognition. Alzheimer’s disease is associated with a build-up of compounds, such as active microglial cells, tau proteins, and beta-amyloid plaques, among several others.
Because the body can’t break down these compounds, they can start to block the synapses where brain cells or nerve cells communicate with each other. This is believed to be one of the most common causes of AD and other types of dementia. Dr. Dale Bredesen, a renowned expert and neurologist, developed a breakthrough, alternative treatment option for dementia and AD that focuses on reducing glial cells, protein, and plaque build-up in the brain. According to Dr. Bredesen’s research studies, a build-up of these compounds can occur due to toxins, infections, inflammatory biomarkers, and genetics.
Bredesen RECODE Protocol� for Dementia and AD
A variety of factors can increase the risk of developing other types of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease because these can affect the neuron’s ability to repair themselves, ultimately causing brain cell or nerve cell death. As previously mentioned above, they may also cause an excessive build-up of compounds, including microglial cells, tau protein, and beta-amyloid plaque in the brain. Cognitive decline plays a critical role in changing the way the brain creates synapses and preserves memory. Fortunately, a functional medicine approach can help improve Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
Dr. Bredesen’s RECODE Protocol� is an alternative treatment option that can help prevent and, in several cases, even reverse cognitive decline in people with other types of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the research studies, Dr. Bredesen’s RECODE Protocol� returned many participants to pre-diagnosis levels of cognition. In other participants, the volume of the hippocampus, the main region of the brain which shrinks in AD and dementia, returned to normal on MRI. By following diet and lifestyle modifications with the RECODE Protocol�, the research study participants recovered their quality of life.
Dr. Bredesen�s RECODE Protocol � is an organized, multifactorial approach which shows that prevention and reversal of cognitive decline are possible by:
Addressing several underlying sources simultaneously
Optimizing essential lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and sleep
Designing treatment based on each patient’s personal needs
Dr. Bredesen�s RECODE Protocol � follows a functional medicine treatment approach for AD and other types of dementia. Healthcare practitioners trained through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) are seeing positive results in people with dementia and Alzheimer�s disease. IFM healthcare practitioners use functional medicine treatment approaches to identify and address the underlying source of a variety of health issues. IFM healthcare practitioners may be properly suited to apply, and even expand, Dr. Bredesen�s RECODE Protocol � for AD and other types of dementia, among other health issues.
Furthermore, several diet and lifestyle modifications may ultimately help prevent and, in several cases, even reverse dementia and AD, including:
Eating a whole-food low glycemic diet, made-up of predominately plant-based foods with 10-15 servings of non-starchy vegetables per day. Moreover, eat lean proteins, such as legumes and cold-water, low-mercury fish. Eat healthy fats, such as nuts, seeds, and olive oil.
Getting plenty of sleep. When you sleep at night, your body can also heal damaged cells and ultimately boost your immune system.
Getting plenty of exercise and physical activity boosts your metabolism, improves mood, promotes better sleep and much more.
Limiting exposure to toxins. Toxins, such as heavy metals, chemicals, mycotoxins, and even some medications, can cause cognitive decline.
Avoiding stress. Chronic stress can cause hormonal and neurotransmitter changes in the body, causing brain degeneration and atrophy.
Avoiding alcohol. Alcohol is a toxin that affects the liver�s ability to metabolize toxins and it is also commonly associated with brain atrophy.
Approximately 5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one of the most common types of dementia, worldwide. A variety of factors can increase the risk of developing other types of dementia and AD, including poor diet and lifestyle habits. Research studies have also shown that treating the body as a whole may help prevent and, in several cases, even reverse cognitive decline. The goal is to start treatment immediately. In the following article, we will ultimately discuss how a functional medicine approach can help improve AD and other types of dementia. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
Approximately 5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or one of the most common types of dementia. According to researchers, a variety of factors can ultimately increase the risk of developing AD and other types of dementia, including poor diet and lifestyle habits. Research studies demonstrated that treating the body as a whole may prevent and, in several cases, even reverse cognitive decline. The goal is to start treatment early. In the article above, we discussed how a functional medicine approach can help with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.�
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
References:
Parke, Emily. �The Functional Medicine Approach to Cognitive Decline.� Dr. Emily Parke – Arizona Wellness Medicine, LLC, 6 Dec. 2018, www.dremilyparke.com/2018/12/06/functional-medicine-cognitive-decline/.
Litwin, Ken A., et al. �The Bredesen Protocol� & Functional Medicine � A Powerful Combination to Prevent & Treat Cognitive Decline.� Kara Fitzgerald ND Naturopathic Doctor, 29 Mar. 2019, www.drkarafitzgerald.com/2018/06/20/the-bredesen-protocol-functional-medicine-a-powerful-combination-to-prevent-treat-cognitive-decline/.
Carpathia Collaborative Staff. �Preventing and Reversing Cognitive Decline.� Carpathia Collaborative, 29 July 2019, carpathiacollaborative.com/blogposts/cognitivedecline.
Additional Topic Discussion: Chronic Pain
Sudden pain is a natural response of the nervous system which helps to demonstrate possible injury. By way of instance, pain signals travel from an injured region through the nerves and spinal cord to the brain. Pain is generally less severe as the injury heals, however, chronic pain is different than the average type of pain. With chronic pain, the human body will continue sending pain signals to the brain, regardless if the injury has healed. Chronic pain can last for several weeks to even several years. Chronic pain can tremendously affect a patient’s mobility and it can reduce flexibility, strength, and endurance.
Neural Zoomer Plus for Neurological Disease
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate neurological diseases. The Neural ZoomerTM Plus is an array of neurological autoantibodies which offers specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus is designed to assess an individual�s reactivity to 48 neurological antigens with connections to a variety of neurologically related diseases. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus aims to reduce neurological conditions by empowering patients and physicians with a vital resource for early risk detection and an enhanced focus on personalized primary prevention.
Food Sensitivity for the IgG & IgA Immune Response
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate health issues associated with a variety of food sensitivities and intolerances. The Food Sensitivity ZoomerTM is an array of 180 commonly consumed food antigens that offers very specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. This panel measures an individual�s IgG and IgA sensitivity to food antigens. Being able to test IgA antibodies provides additional information to foods that may be causing mucosal damage. Additionally, this test is ideal for patients who might be suffering from delayed reactions to certain foods. Utilizing an antibody-based food sensitivity test can help prioritize the necessary foods to eliminate and create a customized diet plan around the patient�s specific needs.
Gut Zoomer for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate gut health associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). The Vibrant Gut ZoomerTM offers a report that includes dietary recommendations and other natural supplementation like prebiotics, probiotics, and polyphenols. The gut microbiome is mainly found in the large intestine and it has more than 1000 species of bacteria that play a fundamental role in the human body, from shaping the immune system and affecting the metabolism of nutrients to strengthening the intestinal mucosal barrier (gut-barrier). It is essential to understand how the number of bacteria that symbiotically live in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract influences gut health because imbalances in the gut microbiome may ultimately lead to gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms, skin conditions, autoimmune disorders, immune system imbalances, and multiple inflammatory disorders.
Formulas for Methylation Support
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly,�Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic�Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link. *XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All of the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Modern Integrated Medicine
The National University of Health Sciences is an institution that offers a variety of rewarding professions to attendees. Students can practice their passion for helping other people achieve overall health and wellness through the institution’s mission. The National University of Health Sciences prepares students to become leaders in the forefront of modern integrated medicine, including chiropractic care. Students have an opportunity to gain unparalleled experience at the National University of Health Sciences to help restore the natural integrity of the patient and define the future of modern integrated medicine.
For people who love drinking diet sodas, recent research studies have found that diet drinks can increase the risk of stroke and dementia. Although diet drinks have been previously advertised as a much more healthier, low-calorie alternative than regular carbonated drinks, a closer look at the results of these recent research studies ultimately suggests otherwise. �
One research study, consisting of 2,888 participants, ages 45 and older, in the Framingham Heart Study, asked for diet entries to be filled out up to three times within a seven-year period. According to the research study, participants who said they drank one diet soda a day were roughly twice as likely to have a stroke within the next decade than individuals who didn’t drink diet soda. Drinking regular, sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks did not seem to increase the risk of stroke. �
However, these types of research studies have only been able to prove an association between diet drinks, stroke, and dementia. “Also, only 97 people (about 3 percent) had strokes during the follow-up, which means that only two or even three of those strokes may be associated to drinking diet soda,” stated Dr. Kathryn Rexrode, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital which co-authored a research study on soda intake and stroke risk. �
Risk of Stroke Associated with Diet Drinks
The research study found a slightly increased risk of stroke in people who drank more than one soda per day, whether or not it contained any type of artificial sweetener. Although the research study didn’t particularly show a considerable increase in stroke risk, that doesn’t necessarily suggest that they’re a better option than diet sodas. Research studies have shown that drinking carbonated drinks may lead to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, ” she stated. �
As a matter of fact, researchers believe that one possible explanation as to why regular, sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks weren’t associated with stroke in the recent research study is a phenomenon known as the survival bias. In this instance, it would mean that individuals who drink a lot of carbonated drinks may have died from health issues such as heart disease. �
Conversely, diet drinks may be associated with an increased risk of stroke due to a variety of health issues known as reverse causation. In an attempt to be healthier, individuals who are overweight or have diabetes may be more inclined to select diet drinks over regular drinks. Their increased risk of stroke may come from their health issues rather than their drink option. “We may ultimately only be measuring the residual effect of weight gain, obesity, and diabetes,” says Dr. Rexrode. �
Artificial Sweeteners and Stroke
� Although researchers need further evidence to determine why artificial sweeteners may increase stroke risk, there are other reasons as to why these should be avoided. Research studies show that artificial sweeteners can make individuals crave sugary, high-calorie meals, therefore, decreasing the artificial sweetener’s purpose of cutting your total calorie consumption. �
Moreover, many researchers believe that people who use these artificial sweeteners, which can be many times sweeter than sugar, can come to find naturally sweet foods, such as fruits, to be less appealing and less-sweet foods, such as vegetables, to be entirely unpalatable. Furthermore, individuals may be missing out on the many nutrients found in fresh, natural foods. �
“I encourage my patients to stop drinking soda and other sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks regularly to prevent empty calories,” she says. “However, if someone says that they can’t do without soda in the morning to wake up, I will encourage them to switch to diet soda.” Water is a much better choice, however. “There are plenty of ways to make it more attractive, both visually and taste-wise.” She adds. Try flavoring sparkling or flat water or add crushed mint, cucumber, or frozen fruit. �
Risk of Dementia Associated with Diet Drinks
In another research study, people who drank diet soda were associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. “The research study can’t prove a connection between drinking habits and health issues, however, it does strongly suggest an association,” Stated Dr. Matthew Pase, neurology fellow at Boston University School of Medicine and contributing author. �
The initial research study evaluated food questionnaires, MRI scans, and cognitive tests of approximately 4,000 people ages 30 and up. Researchers found that individuals who consumed over three diet sodas per week were more likely to have memory problems, a reduced brain volume, and a smaller hippocampus, an area of the brain used in memory and learning. In the research study, drinking a minimum of one diet soda per day was also associated with a reduced brain volume. �
During a second research study, the researchers tracked two different groups of adults for ten years. According to the research study, out of almost 3,000 adults over age 45, approximately 97 adults suffered a stroke during that time and from almost 1,500 adults over age 60, approximately 81 adults developed Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. �
Past research studies have connected diet drinks to an increased risk of weight gain and stroke. Researchers believe that artificial sweeteners may ultimately affect the human body in many different ways, such as by transforming gut bacteria and tricking the brain into craving more calories. This is the first-time diet sodas have been associated with dementia. Because people with diabetes drink more diet soda, researchers believe that the health issue may partly explain the rise in dementia, although not completely. When people with diabetes were excluded from the research study, the association stayed. �
As stated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Americans consumed 11 million metric tons of sugar in 2016, much of it in the form of sugary, sweetened carbonated drinks. Because it would have been difficult to measure total sugar consumption from all type of different food sources, the research study focused on sugary, sweetened carbonated drinks. �
A growing number of research studies suggest that diet drinks may not be a safe alternative to sugary, sweetened drinks. Even small causal effects can have much bigger consequences on health, given the popularity of both diet and regular sodas. The research study concluded that both glucose and artificially sweetened soft drinks “may be hard on the brain.” �
Diet soda is basically a mixture of carbonated water, natural or artificial sweetener, colors, flavors, and other food additives. Although diet drinks generally have very few to no calories, these essentially have no significant nutritional value. Many research studies have demonstrated that drinking diet soda is associated with an increased risk of stroke and dementia. Researchers have also found that diet drinks can cause a variety of other health issues. It’s essential for to avoid drinking too much diet soda. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
Recent research studies have found that diet drinks are associated with an increased risk of stroke and dementia. Although diet drinks are advertised as a much more healthier, low-calorie alternative than regular carbonated drinks, a closer look at the results of these recent research studies ultimately suggests otherwise. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 . �
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez �
References �
Corliss, Julie. �Does Drinking Diet Soda Raise the Risk of a Stroke?� Harvard Health Blog, 31 July 2017, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/drinking-diet-soda-raise-risk-stroke-2017073112109.
MacMillan, Amanda. �A Daily Diet Soda Habit May Be Linked to Dementia.� Health.com, 21 Apr. 2017, www.health.com/alzheimers/diet-soda-linked-to-dementia-stroke.
Additional Topic Discussion: Chronic Pain
Sudden pain is a natural response of the nervous system which helps to demonstrate possible injury. By way of instance, pain signals travel from an injured region through the nerves and spinal cord to the brain. Pain is generally less severe as the injury heals, however, chronic pain is different than the average type of pain. With chronic pain, the human body will continue sending pain signals to the brain, regardless if the injury has healed. Chronic pain can last for several weeks to even several years. Chronic pain can tremendously affect a patient’s mobility and it can reduce flexibility, strength, and endurance.
Neural Zoomer Plus for Neurological Disease
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate neurological diseases. The Neural ZoomerTM Plus is an array of neurological autoantibodies which offers specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus is designed to assess an individual�s reactivity to 48 neurological antigens with connections to a variety of neurologically related diseases. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus aims to reduce neurological conditions by empowering patients and physicians with a vital resource for early risk detection and an enhanced focus on personalized primary prevention. �
Formulas for Methylation Support
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly,�Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic�Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
�
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link.*XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download�
* All of the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
(HealthDay News) — Healthy aging of the brain relies on the health of your heart and blood vessels when you’re younger, a new study reports.
People with risk factors for heart disease and stroke in middle age are more likely to have elevated levels of amyloid, a sticky protein known to clump together and form plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers said.
Amyloid In The Brain
MRI scans revealed larger deposits of amyloid in the brains of seniors who smoked, had high blood pressure, were obese, diabetic or had elevated cholesterol levels when they were middle-aged, said lead researcher Dr. Rebecca Gottesman. She’s an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
All of these risk factors can affect the health of a person’s blood vessels, otherwise known as vascular health, leading to hardening of the arteries and other disorders.
“Amyloid is what we think, by leading hypotheses, accumulates to cause Alzheimer’s disease. So this suggests that vascular risk in middle age may play a direct role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” Gottesman said.
Two or more risk factors nearly tripled a person’s risk of large amyloid deposits. One risk factor alone increased the likelihood of amyloid deposits by 88 percent, the study found.
Obesity
Obesity in particular stood out as a strong risk factor, on its own doubling a person’s risk of elevated amyloid later in life, said Steven Austad, chair of biology of aging and the evolution of life histories at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
“In terms of one risk factor by itself, that turned out to be the most important one, which is interesting,” Austad said. “Twenty years ago obesity was not the problem that it is now, suggesting that 20 years from now things might be considerably worse.”
Gottesman and her colleagues examined data from nearly 350 people whose heart health has been tracked since 1987 as part of an ongoing study. The average age of the study participants was 52 at the start of the study. Sixty percent were women, and 43 percent were black. The average follow-up time was almost 24 years.
When the participants entered the study, none of them had dementia. About two decades later, they were asked to come back and undergo brain scans to check for signs of amyloid.
The researchers discovered a link between heart risk factors and brain amyloid. The relationship did not vary based either on race or known genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s.
Poor Blood Vessel Upkeep
Heart risk factors that cropped up late in life were not associated with brain amyloid deposits. What a person does in their middle age is what apparently contributes to their later risk of elevated amyloid, not what happens later, Gottesman said.
The study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, but there are several theories why the health of a person’s blood vessels might be linked to Alzheimer’s.
Blood and spinal fluid contain amyloid, and some think that unhealthy blood vessels might allow amyloid to leak out of the bloodstream and into brain tissue, said Austad, a spokesman for the American Federation for Aging Research.
“The idea that the first injury to the brain is really an injury to the blood vessels of the brain has been around for a while, and this would support that, generally,” Austad said. “The amyloid plaques, you’re not seeing them inside the vessels. You’re seeing them outside the vessels, in the brain.”
Blood vessels also play a role in flushing out broken-down amyloid particles that naturally occur in a person’s brain, said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“You can imagine if there’s something wrong with your brain’s circulation, it could affect the clearance of this amyloid in some way,” Fargo said.
Hardened arteries also can lead to strokes or mini-strokes that affect the ability to think and remember in some people as they age, which contributes to dementia and Alzheimer’s, Gottesman said.
Based on these findings, people who want to protect their brain health should protect their heart health, and the sooner the better, Fargo said.
“You don’t want to wait until your 60s to start taking care of yourself. It has to be a lifetime commitment,” Fargo said.
The findings were published April 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
SOURCES: Rebecca Gottesman, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore; Steven Austad, Ph.D., chair of biology of aging and the evolution of life histories, University of Alabama, Birmingham, and scientific director, American Federation for Aging Research; Keith Fargo, Ph.D., director of scientific programs and outreach, Alzheimer’s Association; April 11, 2017, Journal of the American Medical Association
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
(HealthDay News) — Healthy aging of the brain relies on the health of your heart and blood vessels when you’re younger, a new study reports.
People with risk factors for heart disease and stroke in middle age are more likely to have elevated levels of amyloid, a sticky protein known to clump together and form plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers said.
Amyloid In The Brain
MRI scans revealed larger deposits of amyloid in the brains of seniors who smoked, had high blood pressure, were obese, diabetic or had elevated cholesterol levels when they were middle-aged, said lead researcher Dr. Rebecca Gottesman. She’s an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
All of these risk factors can affect the health of a person’s blood vessels, otherwise known as vascular health, leading to hardening of the arteries and other disorders.
“Amyloid is what we think, by leading hypotheses, accumulates to cause Alzheimer’s disease. So this suggests that vascular risk in middle age may play a direct role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” Gottesman said.
Two or more risk factors nearly tripled a person’s risk of large amyloid deposits. One risk factor alone increased the likelihood of amyloid deposits by 88 percent, the study found.
Obesity
Obesity in particular stood out as a strong risk factor, on its own doubling a person’s risk of elevated amyloid later in life, said Steven Austad, chair of biology of aging and the evolution of life histories at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
“In terms of one risk factor by itself, that turned out to be the most important one, which is interesting,” Austad said. “Twenty years ago obesity was not the problem that it is now, suggesting that 20 years from now things might be considerably worse.”
Gottesman and her colleagues examined data from nearly 350 people whose heart health has been tracked since 1987 as part of an ongoing study. The average age of the study participants was 52 at the start of the study. Sixty percent were women, and 43 percent were black. The average follow-up time was almost 24 years.
When the participants entered the study, none of them had dementia. About two decades later, they were asked to come back and undergo brain scans to check for signs of amyloid.
The researchers discovered a link between heart risk factors and brain amyloid. The relationship did not vary based either on race or known genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s.
Poor Blood Vessel Upkeep
Heart risk factors that cropped up late in life were not associated with brain amyloid deposits. What a person does in their middle age is what apparently contributes to their later risk of elevated amyloid, not what happens later, Gottesman said.
The study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, but there are several theories why the health of a person’s blood vessels might be linked to Alzheimer’s.
Blood and spinal fluid contain amyloid, and some think that unhealthy blood vessels might allow amyloid to leak out of the bloodstream and into brain tissue, said Austad, a spokesman for the American Federation for Aging Research.
“The idea that the first injury to the brain is really an injury to the blood vessels of the brain has been around for a while, and this would support that, generally,” Austad said. “The amyloid plaques, you’re not seeing them inside the vessels. You’re seeing them outside the vessels, in the brain.”
Blood vessels also play a role in flushing out broken-down amyloid particles that naturally occur in a person’s brain, said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“You can imagine if there’s something wrong with your brain’s circulation, it could affect the clearance of this amyloid in some way,” Fargo said.
Hardened arteries also can lead to strokes or mini-strokes that affect the ability to think and remember in some people as they age, which contributes to dementia and Alzheimer’s, Gottesman said.
Based on these findings, people who want to protect their brain health should protect their heart health, and the sooner the better, Fargo said.
“You don’t want to wait until your 60s to start taking care of yourself. It has to be a lifetime commitment,” Fargo said.
The findings were published April 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
SOURCES: Rebecca Gottesman, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore; Steven Austad, Ph.D., chair of biology of aging and the evolution of life histories, University of Alabama, Birmingham, and scientific director, American Federation for Aging Research; Keith Fargo, Ph.D., director of scientific programs and outreach, Alzheimer’s Association; April 11, 2017, Journal of the American Medical Association
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Parking yourself in front of the TV may make you as likely to develop dementia as people genetically predisposed to the condition, a Canadian study suggests. In a study of more than 1,600 adults aged 65 and older, those who led a sedentary life seemed to have the same risk of developing dementia as those who carried the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene mutation, which increases the chances of developing dementia.
Conversely, people who exercised appeared to have lower odds of developing dementia than those who didn’t, the five-year study found.
“Being inactive may completely negate the protective effects of a healthy set of genes,” said lead researcher Jennifer Heisz, an assistant professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
However, the study didn’t prove that lack of exercise caused dementia risk to increase. It only found an association between the two.
Prevalence of Dementia Due to Inactivity
The APOE mutation is the strongest genetic risk factor for vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease and, especially, Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers said. People with a single APOE “allele” may have a three to four times increased risk of dementia than non-carriers, the study authors said. How exercise may reduce the risk for dementia isn’t known, Heisz said.
These study results, however, suggest that your physical activity level can influence your dementia risk as much as your genetics, Heisz said. “You can’t change your genes, but you can change your lifestyle,” she added.
The kind of exercise that’s best isn’t known, although the people who were physically active in the study reported walking three times a week, Heisz said.
“Which means you don’t have to train like an Olympian to get the brain health benefits of being physically active,” she said.
The report was published Jan. 10 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Dr. Sam Gandy directs the Center for Cognitive Health at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He said the study findings aren’t “really a surprise, but it is good to see it proven.” Other scientists showed some years ago that people with the APOE mutation could virtually erase the risk of developing amyloid plaques in the brain if they became regular runners, Gandy said. Amyloid plaques are one of the hallmark signs of Alzheimer’s.
“That was an amazing report that, I believe, has been underpublicized,” Gandy said.
However, this new study suggests that if you are blessed with genes that lower your risk for Alzheimer’s, you could lose that benefit if you don’t exercise, he said.
“I cannot understand why the fear of dementia is not sufficient to induce everyone to adopt a regular exercise program,” Gandy said. “I tell all my patients that if they leave with one, and only one, piece of advice, that the one thing that they can do to reduce their risk of dementia or slow the progression of dementia is to exercise,” he said.
About 47.5 million people around the world are living with dementia, the researchers said, and that number is expected to surge to 115 million by 2050. With no known cure, there’s an urgent need to explore, identify and change lifestyle factors that can reduce dementia risk, the study authors said.
SOURCES: Jennifer Heisz, Ph.D., assistant professor, department of kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Sam Gandy, M.D., Ph.D., director, Center for Cognitive Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City; Jan. 10, 2017, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Additional Topics: Chiropractic Care for Older Adults
Chiropractic care is an alternative treatment option which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries and/or conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, primarily the spine. Chiropractic utilizes spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to treat a variety of injuries and conditions. As people age, degenerative injuries and conditions can commonly occur. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment has been demonstrated to benefit older adults with spinal degeneration, helping to restore their original health and wellness.
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
