Although her grandfather died in dementia, Kristin Richardson did not worry much about her brain until the laboratory test revealed that she positively appreciated the APOE4, a gene associated with the greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. It was seven and a half years ago.
Richardson, who is now 51, remembers crying when she got the news. “I was scared,” she said. “It is a terrible, terrible disease that has no treatment.”
So Richardson, a business owner in Richmond, Virginia, decided to make any changes to reduce the risk of the disease. “I do everything I can to sleep enough. I am constantly active. I try to eat well and keep a healthy weight. I always work my brain to learn new things,” she said.
Kristin Richardson, seen here with his daughters, positively appreciated the APOE4 gene, which was associated with the greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. (Courtesy of Kristin Richardson)
Two new research presented at the Alzheimer Association’s International Conference meeting in Toronto can give hope to Richardson and others suffering from the risk of genetic disease. Both new studies are based on previous evidence that diet, certain brain training and physical activity may delay memory loss and slow down the decline in cognitive abilities.
Each study examined 2,985 black and white older adults who were tested for APOE and were observed for 10 years. Each year, participants were interviewed for the walk they were doing, and by a few points, their cognitive status was evaluated by standardized exams.
In general, participants of the APOE4 gene mutation showed that cognition has fallen harder than those who are other forms of gene that do not pose the risk of Alzheimer. Although the walk seemed to be protective for all participants, it was the strongest among the APOE4 patients.
The risk of Alzheimer’s development among those whose APOE4 specimens are 12 times higher than women, none of them are four times larger than men who are not, said senior author Cindy Barha, Assistant of Neuroscience, Calgary University and Canada University.
It changed a lot if people were walking. In general, women will use more.
The 10% higher amount of self -walking was associated with 4.7% increased results of complex thinking over time and 2.6% of men’s increase.
Among the Apoe4 carriers, men seemed to be useful. The 10% higher number of self -walking was associated with 8.5% increased global cognitive results over time in women and male increase by 12%. It was a surprise for researchers who hoped that women would continue to use more.
Walking seems to hold the brain healthier by pumping the cerebral neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the protein, which is known to maintain the health of the brain cells, said Barha. Other brain proteins can also be involved.
“BDNF is like your brain fertilizer that is naturally produced, especially when you are physically active, such as when you walk,” Barha said. “It helps brain cells to survive, grow and form stronger relationships; it maintains memory, learning and mood, especially the hippocampus, which is the center of the brain memory.”
The restriction of the study is that he did not observe how quickly or how often the participants walked.
The risk of dementia has been changed through lifestyle
The second international study, led by researchers in Finland, found that a combination of lifestyle modifications can also be useful for people with APOE4 variations than those with other mutations.
The study included 2,469 participants from France, Japan and Finland, who were randomly assigned to obtaining a multimedia lifestyle intervention or not. Among the participants were 709 APOE4 carriers.
The lifestyle modifications were included:
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Cognitive training-computers or with paper and pencil.
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Physical activity, including group exercise exercise sessions lasting 90 minutes, and exercise program supervised by physiotherapists in the gym.
Preliminary analysis revealed that the benefits of APOE4 carriers’ intervention were greater.
The research co -author Jenni Lehtisal, a researcher at the Institute of Health and Welfare of Finland, said the main show is that the risk of dementia, even for people with a genetic predisposition, can change their lifestyle.
For those who positively appreciated APOE4, there was about four times the benefit, said Lehtisal, who is also a visitor at the University of Eastern Finland.
Future research is expected to reveal whether there is a specific time window through which modifications are more effective, she said.
Dr. Cynthia Boyd, a professor of medicine and director of Johns Hopkins Medical Geherka and the Gerontology Division, said research shows that “there is something specific we can all do to reduce the risk of cognition.”
“Walking and other lifestyle modifications can be a brain protection,” said Boyd, who has not participated in new research.
Adam Brickman, a professor of neuropsychology at the Columbia University of Columbia, said that in order to optimize the brain and cognitive health, it is a good idea for everyone, despite genetic risk, engaging in physical activity, maintaining a good diet and observing other risk factors related to dementia.
“Sometimes people find it difficult to start a new healthy behavior,” Brickman said. “Knowledge of the increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to the fact that you have APOE4 allele can help inspire or motivate lifestyle changes to mitigate this risk.”
This article was originally published in nbcnews.com