Week of June 1 - June 7, 2008

Preventing and slowing Alzheimer's is best achieved through by "SLEDing" - making sure to socialize, learn, exercise and diet. "The Alzheimer's Action Plan" explains how.

TRANSCRIPT

Newscaster: "Scientists say the incidence of Alzheimer's will keep rising as more and more people live longer. Now did you know that no matter what your age, you can take steps right now to beat the odds of getting the disease? CBS correspondent Dr. Sean Kennif has details on The Alzheimer's Action Plan. "

Dr. Sean Kenniff on the Need for Prevention

Dr. Sean Kennif: "Last year, Marge Fink had only been in a special Alzheimer's residence for a few months, but she was confused."

Marge: "I've think I've been here for five or ten years, I don't really remember."

Dr. Kennif: "She's not alone. There are roughly 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's in the U.S. and in the next few decades that number is expected to skyrocket. A recent study found one in every 8 baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's. That's roughly 10 million new cases.

"Ironically, this boost in Alzheimer's is partly a side-effect of what we are doing RIGHT in medicine. These days, conditions like heart-disease and cancer are being treated so effectively, people are actually living long enough to develop Alzheimer's.

Dr. Doraiswamy on Defending Ourselves

"Dr. P. Morali Doraiswamy is the Chief of Biological Psychology at Duke University."

Dr. Doraiswamy: "Alzheimer's is a huge public health problem in the United States."

Dr. Kennif: "But take action today and you might delay the disease or perhaps even avoid it. That's the premise behind Dr. Doraiswamy's new book, The Alzheimer's Action Plan. The most important actions to take are so-called 'SLED' activities:

• Socialize
• Learn
• Exercise
• Diet

"First socialize, having a broad social network keeps the brain engaged.

"And, learn something.

Dr. Doraiswamy: "It's very important to keep yourself involved in novel activities that are also challenging. This could be everything from reading a new book, learning a new dance, learning a new language, or doing a crossword puzzle."

Dr. Kennif: "Exercise helps release brain chemicals that help neurons connect to each other.

"And watch your diet. Studies show The Mediterenean Diet is one way to protect yourself. And spice it up a little with curry."

Dr. Doraiswamy: "Curry seems to contain an ingredient, curcumin, that might fight some of the plaques that build up in the Alzheimer's brain."

Dr. Kennif: "The Alzheimer's Action Plan also has a lot information on brain-healthy lifestyles, the best drugs available, tips from clinical trials and for caregivers."

Some Afterthoughts

Newscaster: "Thanks, that's great advice. You know I went through this with my Mom. People think that Alzheimer's is a disease where old people forget things, but it's not. It's a killer disease."

Dr. Kennif: "It is a fatal disease and we don't have any cure. But if you recognize it early and you treat it early, you can possibly be able to slow it down.

"In some cases, modification of lifestyle factors might be able to avoid the disease entirely in some people, certainly not in all people, but in some people."

Newscaster #2: "So walking and diet are important?"

Dr. Kennif: "Very important!"

MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.D.
Duke University Medical School

Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy, a physician and teacher at Duke University, is a well known expert in the fields of brain longevity and mental fitness. Dr. Doraiswamy received his medical degree in India and completed his residency training at Duke University where he received the Outstanding Resident Award from the National Institutes of Mental Health. Dr. Doraiswamy joined the faculty at Duke in 1995 as the Director of Clinical Trials in the Department of Psychiatry and served as the lead physician on numerous clinical studies of pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to enhance cognition.

He is currently Chief of the Division of Biological Psychiatry at Duke and involved in a wide range of research into the mind and brain. Dr. Doraiswamy served on the National Scientific Advisory Committee for the American Federation for Aging Research and currently serves on the National Medical Advisory Board for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. He has served as a consultant to WHO, FDA and numerous pharmaceutical companies and been awarded grants from both government and companies. Dr. Doraiswamy is the author of more than 250 scientific articles and has lectured in over 30 countries.

SOURCE:

CBS4.com (Miami - Ft. Lauderdale)

Reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Boaz Ancselovic, MD, Geriatrician, Alzheimer's Weekly

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