Strong reason to control blood pressure and sugar intake. As I look back on my posts, I see so much which talks about sugar. We all need to cut it out, but crap it is hard... especially at this time of year.
The percentage of older people with dementia is on the decline, even though a cure for this devastating condition remains elusive, The New York Times reports. Based on surveys of 21,000 older adults, University of Michigan found the dementia rate among older Americans fell from about 12 percent in 2000 to roughly 9 percent in 2012. That translates to about 1 million fewer Americans suffering from the condition. The reasons for this unexpected drop aren’t clear. Scientists speculate that more people are receiving effective treatment for conditions linked to dementia, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which can impair blood flow to the brain. It’s also possible that a climb in the average education levels of older adults plays a role: Previous studies suggest that higher learning creates more complicated connections between nerve cells, which may help protect the brain against cognitive decline. But while the risk for dementia may be decreasing slightly, study author Dr. Kenneth Langa warns that the total number of Americans with dementia will continue to climb as the massive baby boomer generation moves into its 60s, 70s, and 80s. “This is still going to be a top-priority issue for families, and for health policy, now and in the coming decades,” Langa says.
Taken from the December 9, 2016 edition of The Week Magazine.
No comments:
Post a Comment