Alzheimer’s Disease: Bad News and Good News
Seniors hoping to stay sharp in old age are bombarded with recommendations, from doing brainteasers to drinking red wine. But a recent review of research brings sobering news: Currently, there is no good evidence that any supplement, medication, diet or behavior change actually prevents Alzheimer’s or other age-related cognitive decline.
Such a grim verdict on a much-dreaded disease might seem like cause for despair. It’s not, say researchers.
“The bad news is we have nothing that’s been proven to prevent Alzheimer’s disease,” said Cynthia Carlsson, a professor and Alzheimer’s researcher at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, who was not on the panel that reviewed the research. “But the good news is we’re really at a tremendous point in understanding more about the disease causes.”
For instance, evidence is mounting to suggest Alzheimer’s damages the brain well before outward mental impairment shows up. So if doctors had tools to identify these pre-symptomatic individuals, they could start early treatments to help at least slow the mental slide.
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Elayne Forgie has been a professional geriatric care manager for over 20 years and was a founding Board Member of the Florida Geriatric Care Managers Association. She is the President/CEO of ElderCare at Home, Inc. and The Alzheimer's Care Resource Center. Information on this website or contained in this article is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider.
