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| Top experts on the NIH Alzheimer's Prevention Panel authored this report. |
The NIH report,
“Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline,” reviews the numerous studies on lowering the risk of Alzheimer's. It helps clarify which studies show "consistent associations" between people's characteristics and their level of risk for Alzheimer's.
For an explanation of "consistent associations", see below the chart.
Alzheimer's Prevention: What We Know
Consistent Association
for Reducing Risk -->
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Good |
Modest |
None |
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Flavonoids and Multivitamins
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Antihypertensive medication
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Cholinesterase inhibitors
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Anti-inflammatories:
NSAID's, aspirin
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Cognitive activities ("brain exercise, brain training")
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Consistent Association for Increased Risk -->
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High |
Modest |
None |
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Psychological & emotional health
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What are "consistent associations?"
Let's take fish as an example. People who ate a lot of fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids were "consistently associated" with a lower risk of Alzheimer's. That means that if there were 10 studies, the results of all 10 studies were pretty consistent, and people who ate such fish kept showing a low risk. There was good consistency between the studies, associating the people who ate fish rich in Omega-3 with a lower risk for Alzheimer's. Therefore, in the chart, the "GOOD" box next to fish is checked.
On the other hand, take the case of B Vitamins. Some studies reported on this site have shown they were great at lowering risk while others have shown that they did nothing, or perhaps even increased risk. Based on these studies, it is unclear whether taking B Vitamins is a benefit or a detriment. Therefore the phrase, "consistent association" is used. Based on studies to date, there is "no consistency" between the B Vitamin studies. Therefore, there is no consistent association between taking B Vitamins and reducing the risk of Alzheimer's. Though we did not prove B Vitamins don't help, we certainly have been unable to make any meaningful connection one way or the other. That is why the "NONE" box is checked by B Vitamins.
This process of looking for "consistent associations" does not prove any absolute cause-and-effect relationships. Notwithstanding, when there is a consistent association, consider it probable evidence worthy of serious attention.
READ RELATED ARTICLES
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The NIH’s Alzheimer’s Prevention Panel clarified the big issues in reducing Alzheimer's risk, stirring up a bit of controversy along the way. Its insights are in the new 16-page report, “Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline.”
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Read More...
More Information:
Source:
National Institutes of Health
Week of May 2 - May 9, 2010
By Peter Berger, Alzheimer's Weekly.
Reviewed by
Dr. Boaz Ancselovic, MD, Geriatrician, Alzheimer's Weekly.
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Alzheimer's Weekly LLC.
All Rights Reserved.
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