When you can not seem to stop thinking about something, you know it is significant to you. Maintaining mental acuity seems to be a top priority for many of us as we get older. This is especially true given the alarming estimates that dementia will impact nine million Americans 65 and older by 2030 and twelve million by 2040.
According to Dr. Andrew Budson, a neurology lecturer at Harvard Medical School, “there is more focus on this currently because medical science has done a relatively excellent job of treating heart disease and cancer, but made fewer progress in tackling memory problems like dementia.” “I believe that more people than ever are concerned about this.”
However, worry does not have to contribute to a feeling of powerlessness. In fact, studies are showing that humans may have more power than previously thought to stop brain deterioration. A significant new study focuses on the powerful impact a healthy lifestyle has on memory maintenance, especially in older persons who are genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent type of dementia.