Rx for a Healthy Brain
The new Pearl Barlow Center for Memory Evaluation and Treatment is dedicated to the treatment of memory impairments caused by Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, depression, and other conditions. Patients are offered comprehensive clinical care, and have access to advances concerning early diagnosis and treatment of cognitive disorders generated by researchers at the School of Medicine’s Silberstein Institute. Thomas Wisniewski, M.D., Professor of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry, an expert on the disease, is the center’s Director. Here he shares his thoughts about how to reduce the chances of getting Alzheimer’s.
Q: Aside from being dealt a good set of genes, what can a person do to ward off dementia?
A: Believe it or not, I tell patients to stick to a good diet that has plenty of fruits and vegetables, and DHA [an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish]. Keep your total cholesterol and LDL [the “bad” cholesterol] levels low, and your HDL [the “good” cholesterol] levels high. Keep your blood pressure under control. Avoid head trauma and stay physically fit with 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day.
Q: That sounds a lot like a prescription for a healthy heart. What is the relationship between dementia and cardiovascular health?
A: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which are cardiovascular risk factors, clearly increase the incidence of becoming demented late in life. Specifically, high cholesterol levels in midlife are associated with an increased risk of dementia as you age.
Q: Exercising also helps the heart and the brain?
A: Yes, it does. There are many studies showing that folks who exercise regularly have a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. And those who are sedentary have an increased risk of cerebral atrophy.
Q: What about fish oil?
A: Studies suggest that high blood levels of DHA could protect against Alzheimer’s, although there’s no official FDA recommendation for DHA intakes. It would be good to have three weekly servings of cold water fish [like salmon, tuna, and swordfish], which have higher DHA levels. There’s no downside.
Q: Curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, is receiving attention as a way to prevent dementia.
A: Yes, in animal and test-tube studies the curcumin story is promising. But short-term treatments of curcumin in humans thus far have not really shown anything. There’s no particular harm in taking curcumin. But adding it to the diet is a significant change and it’s not anything that I recommend to patients.
Q: What about keeping the mind active as you age?
A: So far, no human studies have shown that mental activity lowers your risk of Alzheimer’s, although I always advise patients to remain mentally active.
Q: Why?
A: Because animal data clearly shows that keeping mentally active prevents memory problems. In addition, people with mild cognitive impairment, or who are at risk, are less likely to be depressed if they are mentally and socially active. Depression is a risk factor for the onset of Alzheimer's.
For more information, call 212-263-3210 or visit the Barlow Center website.
Article originally published in News & Views, Spring 2008.