As the largest resource of information specific to women's brain health, we are sure you will find what you are looking for, and promise that you will discover new information.
Published on: July 2, 2015
by Lynn Allison for NewsMax:
Despite massive research efforts, there is still no diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease. However, recent studies have uncovered three surprising early warning signs of the brain illness.
No. 1 – Weak handshake. Scientists at the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario, found that poor hand grip is predictive of dementia, heart problems, and stroke.
Researchers looked at 140,000 people from 17 different countries and found a clear and consistent link between weak grip strength and death from any cause, including Alzheimer’s.
“This study really strengthens the case for using grip strength as a marker for health problems,” says Bob McLean, of Harvard Medical School’s Institute for Aging Research.
In fact, the American Academy of Neurology reports that people with firm handshakes are 42 percent less likely to suffer from dementia or stroke.
Researchers theorize that cardiovascular weakness causes weakness in the extremities, which is evident during a handshake. The same weakness can reduce cognitive functioning, they believe.
No. 2 – Slow walking gait. Researchers at Boston Medical Center found that middle-aged people with slower walking speeds were 1.5 times more likely to develop dementia.
That’s because walking speed indicates general fitness, Kevin Campbell, M.D., a leading North Carolina cardiologist, tells Newsmax Health.
“Physical activity is important to lowering risk of dementia,” he notes. “Those who engage both physically and socially, as in the case of walking, lower their risk of these dangerous conditions.”
No. 3 – Poor sleep. The brain uses sleep to flush out toxins that play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study at the Washington University School of Medicine.
“Sleep provides the time to recharge and reset your body and that obviously includes the brain,” says Dr. Campbell. “It also allows you to repair the connections between brain cells which may help explain the link between a lack of sleep and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Sleep is a very ordered function. It moves from cycles of light to deeper sleep, where we get the most rest and brain repair. If you have interrupted sleep or wake often, you may never get to the deeper sleep stages and your brain will suffer.”
Source: http://nws.mx/1RTXxiF
Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia can bring mixed and complex emotions. For some, it may be a relief that there is finally an explanation for symptoms....
As a cognitive neuroscientist and clinical neuropsychologist, I have been yammering away for years about the detrimental effects of loneliness and social isolation on brain health and overall health. Loneliness and social isolation have long been of interest to...
Scientists have collected plenty of evidence linking exercise to brain health, with some research suggesting fitness may even improve memory. But what happens during exercise to trigger these benefits? New UT Southwestern research that mapped...
The material presented through the Think Tank feature on this website is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. WBHI strongly advises all questioners and viewers using this feature with health problems to consult a qualified physician, especially before starting any treatment. The materials provided on this website cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. The materials are not exhaustive and cannot always respect all the most recent research in all areas of medicine.
