Studies Show Ways to Help Reduce the Risk of Developing Alzheimer's

About Juliet Holt Klinger

Senior Director of Dementia Care

Juliet is a passionate advocate for people living with dementia and their families. She is deeply committed to improving the cultural acceptance of those with cognitive differences. As our gerontologist and Senior Director of Dementia Care, Juliet develops person-centered care and programming for Brookdale’s dementia care communities. But if you ask her, Juliet says she continues to learn every day from the true experts, those living with dementia and their care partners. Juliet believes we need to move beyond the concept of caregiving, which implies a one-sided relationship, and embrace the idea of care partnering. Care partnering is about relationships built on cooperation—a two-way street promoting person-centered care and mutual feelings of purpose, where the person living with dementia also plays a strong role in shaping their care and daily routine. We are here to partner, learn and grow with our residents and families to make aging a better experience. After volunteering in nursing homes in high school, Juliet knew she wanted to work with older adults. While working on her bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Iowa, she completed an Aging Studies Certificate program, before there were formal gerontology programs available. At Iowa, Juliet also had the chance to study with pioneers in the field of dementia care, an opportunity that shaped her passion for caring for those living with dementia. Trained as a gerontologist, with a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, Juliet joined Brookdale in 2004. She is a seasoned senior living executive with more than 30 years of experience designing and executing innovative Alzheimer's and dementia care programs and living environments in both assisted living and skilled settings.

Last week was a rich one for Alzheimer’s and dementia news as the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2016 International Conference (AAIC) was held in Toronto. Those of us who highlight the latest and most promising research in Alzheimer’s and dementia had plenty of items to choose from.

When it come to preventing Alzheimer’s, or at least slowing its effects on our brains, there is both bad news and good news. The bad news: As we age, we develop an even greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s, especially if our lifestyle is sedentary, our eating is unhealthy and we spend a lot of time staring into TV and/or computer screens. It might seem obvious that in order to lower your risk of getting dementia changing your lifestyle would be mandatory, or is that really the case?

Here’s what appears to be the good news—three studies presented at this year’s conference show that there are things baby boomers can do to reduce the chances of being affected by cognitive decline. Although more study is certainly needed, the findings are positive, with some studies even suggesting ways we can “counteract” the effects of our unhealthy diets and cerebrovascular disease with enjoyable activities.

Brain training

The most promising study was the ACTIVE Study (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly) that assessed the effects of three computerized brain training programs. The first author of the new study, University of South Florida associate professor Jerri Edwards, was reported in the LA Times, saying that “the ACTIVE study’s findings appear to be a milestone — ‘the first time a cognitive training intervention has been shown to protect against cognitive impairment or dementia in a large, randomized, controlled trial.’” (An NBC article notes that Edward’s mentor, who happens to be the primary developer of the intervention, sold her rights to a company who now sells the cognitive training online at brainhq.com.) It will be interesting to follow the results through the peer-review process.

Mental stimulation

The second noteworthy research release from the conference appeared in an article in the Washington Post. This article highlights two studies that show that maintaining a mentally stimulating lifestyle and working in a complex setting with intricate social demands, particularly those that involve mentoring or helping others, show promise as a way to build up cognitive reserve.

My personal favorite was the study that found that “while a ‘Western’ diet (characterized by red and processed meats, white bread, potatoes, pre-packaged foods and sweets) is associated with cognitive decline, people who ate such food could offset the negative effects and experienced less cognitive decline if they also had a mentally stimulating lifestyle.”

So, perhaps we can have our cake and eat it too?

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