Active Brain Keeps Dementia Away

Dementia was always considered by many as a plague of old age — a process associated with the almost inevitable decline of mental activity as we age. However, with the help of modern science, we finally started to identify the specific physiological and anatomical changes associated with dementia. Armed with this information at hand, we can make some reasonable conclusions about what to do to avoid the mental decline later in your life. Let's take a look at what you can do to keep dementia away.

Dementia is very common

The term “Dementia” originates from the Latin word ‘de’ which means apart and ‘mentis’ meaning mind — together meaning apart mind. Dementia is a syndrome rather than a disease. It is often characterized by a number of signs and symptoms such as loss of one's memory, language ability, concentration and problem solving ability. Dementia can be associated with various conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Around 5% of geriatric population (meaning those who are older than 65 years of age) are believed to be affected by this condition. Globally, 35 million people are diagnosed with dementia, and the World Health Organization estimates that this number is going to rise to 115 million by the year 2050. This means that dementia is extremely common, feeding into the idea that dementia is inevitable with old age. If it is so common, how can one avoid this syndrome? While you can't make sure that you won't get it, there is a certain way to possibly prevent dementia. Here's how.

Mental Activity is the key to avoiding dementia

Dementia is often considered as a natural outcome of aging, with it being so common amongst old people. However, this isn't exactly the case. The modern research evidences suggest that dementia and memory loss can be prevented and thinking ability can be maintained providing that active mental exercises are adopted early in your life.

This is not surprising considering the fact that brain behavior in old age is an expression of habits adopted during early childhood, teenage years and adult years.  Scientists have examined the brains of different people after death and found that those with dementia invariably had more plaques in the brain tissue, as compared to their relatively healthier counterparts.

Dementia and the age of retirement

Delaying retirement (and thus continuing an active life) seems to be important when it comes to delaying or minimizing the probability of dementia in the future. One of the most convincing scientific studies was conducted in France by Carole Dufuil and presented this year at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. The researcher has analyzed data from French healthcare insurer’s records and concluded that individuals retiring at the age of 65 were 14.6% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those retiring at 60. What adds the credibility to the conclusion is the fact that the study was conducted with a massive sample size of almost half a million people.

Intellectual Activity Helps In Brain Development And Prevents Dementia

There is strong evidence that those who stay intellectually active have a lower probability of falling into dementia as compared to those with average mental activity.

We are a product of our own actions and this is more than evident in the context of dementia. 

The long-term study conducted by researchers from the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago clearly confirmed this view. Scientists recruited 294 people aged 55 years or older. Participants were administered tests to assess their memory and were also asked associated questions like as to whether they read books or write letters. When brains were examined after their death, it was evident that those who read and wrote more often invariably showed better memory retention and exhibited fewer pathological changes in the brain tissue. Those who were mentally active exhibited a slower onset of dementia, by 15% on average.  The study concluded that exercising the brain during the lifetime ensures an active and healthy brain in old age.

IQ and the thickness of cortex

Many researchers subscribe for so-called “use-it-or-lose-it” hypothesis: an organ which is not exercised becomes under-performing. Brain is no exception. The thickness of brain cortex, the outermost layer of brain responsible for thinking and intelligence, depends on how actively the brain is used. It is assumed that with the advancing age the cortex thins out and dementia set in. Active use of brain slows down this process.

Recently published comprehensive study involved 600 people from Scotland who were tracked from the age of 11 through to the age of 70. All subjects were born in the year 1936 and had their IQ measured at the age of 11 and then at 70 years of age. The brains were scanned at the age of 73 and the cortex thickness evaluated. Researchers found a clear correlation between the IQ levels and cortex thickness thus confirming the connection between brain anatomical features, its activity, and dementia.

The debates still continue whether the intelligence and IQ are the functions of a personal genetic makeup or they can be “nurtured” during the lifetime.  The general consensus amongst psychiatrists and behavioral scientists is that although genetics plays role, the active use of brain can significantly improve its functioning. It is not a big surprise, therefore, that those into intellectually demanding professions invariably acquire a thicker cortex. Consequently, those with higher intelligence would have a lower probability of developing dementia later in life.

Lifetime experience counts

During the golden years everyone experience some losses of cortex tissues. Obviously, those with thicker cortex are less affected by the loss and have lower chances to develop the symptoms of dementia. It would be fairly accurate to conclude that early intellectual development helps to stay mentally active and free from dementia later in life. This conclusion emphasizes once more the importance of intellectual activities for children and young adults.