Quick Study: Walking may prevent memory problems in older people

THE QUESTION Might a regular walking regimen protect against the memory loss that occurs when the brain shrinks in old age?

THIS STUDY involved 299 people who averaged 78 years old and had no cognitive problems at the start of the study. The distances they walked weekly were recorded, MRI scans measured their brains' gray matter (the part of the brain responsible for thinking) and they were given standardized cognitive tests. After 13 years, 116 participants had diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Those who walked six to nine miles a week had greater gray matter volume nine years after the start of the study than those who walked less or not at all; walking farther showed no added benefit. They also were half as likely to have developed memory problems in the 13-year span as were the others.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Older people. Walking has been shown to boost a person's energy and mood, benefit muscles and bones, help control weight and lower the risk for such health problems as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

CAVEATS Data on walking distances were based on the participants' reports and were obtained only at the start of the study. The study did not rule out that other factors, such as ill health, might have led to reduced amounts of walking and loss of gray matter volume.

FIND THIS STUDY Oct. 19 issue of Neurology.

LEARN MORE ABOUT memory loss at http://www.familydoctor.org/ and http://www.nia.nih.gov/.

- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

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Quick Study: Pear-shaped women may suffer worse memory loss than others

THE QUESTION Does an older woman's weight affect the workings of her brain, including her memory?

THIS STUDY analyzed data on 8,745 women, 65 to 79 years old, who were generally in good health and had no evidence of cognitive decline. The women completed standardized tests for mental functioning and had an array of physical measurements recorded, including body mass index (BMI, an indicator of body fatness, based on a person's weight and height). In general, the higher a woman's BMI, the lower she scored on memory tests. The effect was most pronounced among pear-shaped women (whose fat is carried on the hips) than apple-shaped women (who have more of their fat around the waist).

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Older women. Memory problems are common as people age. Loss of brain cells starts in the early 20s, so forgetting a name or where the car keys are is normal by age 60 or so. Other things have been shown to affect memory, too, including depression, alcohol and drug use, stroke and dementia (which also affects broader thinking ability and involves forgetting how to do once-familiar tasks and how to get someplace frequently visited).

CAVEATS Nearly all study participants were white; whether the finding applies equally to other races is unknown. The reason weight and fat distribution may affect memory remains unclear.

FIND THIS STUDY July 14 online issue of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.

LEARN MORE ABOUT memory loss at http://www.fda.gov and http://www.familydoctor.org.

-- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

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Unhealthy physical conditions may contribute to memory loss

THE QUESTION Metabolic syndrome - a cluster of health problems that includes high blood pressure, excess belly fat, high blood sugar levels, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "good" kind) and high levels of fatty triglycerides in the blood - has been linked to heart disease and diabetes. Might it also play a role in memory loss?

THIS STUDY involved 7,087 men and women older than 65 with no signs of dementia. About 16 percent of them had metabolic syndrome. Over a four-year period, their cognitive abilities were checked periodically, using a series of standardized tests. On tests of overall memory, those with metabolic syndrome were 20 percent more likely than the others to show cognitive decline. They were 13 percent more likely to register decline on tests of visual memory.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Older people. Some types of memory loss are normal as the brain ages - specifically recent memory, such as where you put your keys or the name of someone you just met. Other memory problems, such as forgetting how to get somewhere you go often or having trouble following the steps required in a recipe, could indicate more serious cognitive decline.

CAVEATS Whether the length of time people had metabolic syndrome made a difference was not determined, because the information was not available.

FIND THIS STUDY Feb. 2 online issue of Neurology (www.neurology.org).

LEARN MORE ABOUT memory and aging at www.nia.nih.gov (search for "forgetfulness") and www.apa.org (search for "memory").

- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

Read More