Posted on 06/02/2023 7:21:02 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
About two-thirds of the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is thought to arise from genetic influences, but about a third could be influenced by environment and lifestyle, opening the door for behavioral interventions that could delay or prevent pathophysiological changes that occur with AD. Now a new study in a mouse model of AD examines the effects of environmental enrichment on AD symptom progression and pathology.
Dr. Kempermann commented, "AD does not start when the symptoms become obvious. There is a decades-long silent period, during which the pathology progresses undetected."
Dr. Kempermann said, "However, we discovered that there are already subtle but important behavioral changes long before the first plaques appear, and the cognitive deficits become detectable."
The mice were housed in an enriched environment, which consisted of 60 interconnected cages, from age 6 weeks to 23 weeks and were then moved to standard cages after 4 months. Living in the enriched environment improved several measures of metabolism, which are known risk factors for AD.
Dr. Kempermann explained, "The [AD model] mice in our study showed a reduction in individual behaviors. They became more similar and more rigid. As this individualization is to a large degree driven by individual behavior and depends on brain plasticity, we can conclude that the affected mice had behavioral deficits very early in the course of the disease. They did not respond normally to the offerings of their environment."
John Krystal, MD said of the work, "This novel study suggests that environmental enrichment may reduce the early accumulation of amyloid plaques in a mouse model of AD. This insight may suggest a strategy for delaying the development of symptoms associated with this disorder."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Soooo...having had to move about 20 times over 50+ years WAS good for me?!
My folks, in their 90s, were artists who were always trying something new. (Hobby artists, they knew they couldn’t quit their day jobs ...) So I wonder if that helped them as the article suggests. Dad taught himself how to do copper plate etchings and got a hand operated printing press that took 10 men and a boy to move. In his 80s.
Needless to say I hope I keep my wits about me as well as they did!
The mice were housed in an enriched environment, which consisted of 60 interconnected cages, from age 6 weeks to 23 weeks and were then moved to standard cages after 4 months.
Flowers For Algernon
Nope.
Just prolonging the agony with yet more wasted research $$ on AZ.
I bet we are going to find out the hard way that “working from home” has some nasty consequences (like off-the-charts Alzheimers).
That was a great read, as a child.
Turn off the TV and replace it with gaming/puzzles. Being alone is also a problem as you get older. You need social interaction.
It’s interesting on many levels.
How science affects humanity.
What is a “good” life.
Many levels.
Supreme Court judges are mentally sharp deep into their elder years. They have challenging and interesting things to do, to think about, and have interesting people to talk with, all their lives.
Seems logical to me that their way of life fends off mental decline.
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