- American researchers have found compelling new evidence
that people who spend long hours in front of television are at increased
risk of Alzheimer's disease.
-
- Research published today suggests that adults with hobbies
that exercise the brain - such as reading, jigsaw puzzles, chess or knitting
- are two-and-a-half times less likely than others to have the disease.
-
- The study of people in their 70s found that those who
regularly participated in intellectually challenging hobbies during their
younger adult years tended to be more protected against Alzheimer's.
-
- Australian researchers said yesterday the research added
to evidence suggesting a healthy, stimulated mind - through education and
by intellectually demanding professions - will help delay the onset of
the degenerative brain condition.
-
- In the study, appearing in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, Dr Robert P.Friedland and his colleagues from Cleveland
questioned about 550 people in their 70s about their leisure activities
during early (age 20 to 39) and middle (age 40 to 60) adulthood. Of the
participants, 193 were Alzheimer's patients and 358 were not. The information
about the Alzheimer's patients was gathered from family and friends, while
the control group was interviewed directly.
-
- Activities were divided up into passive, such as watching
television, or listening to music; intellectual, such as reading, crossword
puzzles, musical instruments, board games, knitting or woodwork; and physical,
such as bike riding, swimming or walking.
-
- They found intellectual activities seemed particularly
protective, with those whose leisure centred on mind-challenging hobbies
were about two-and-a-half times less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Intellectual
stimulation in early and middle adulthood did not provide absolute protection
against Alzheimer's in late adulthood, said Dr Friedland, but the activities
could delay the disease for years.
-
- The acting medical director of Kingston Aged Care Centre,
Barbara Workman, said the research was important because it established
that how people used leisure time was important in delaying Alzheimer's.
-
- She said the simple analogy was, if you exercise your
muscles it will take you longer to become weak, therefore if you stimulate
your brain to work harder, it will take longer to become weak.
-
- "I think that these things are a very simple preventative
measure," she said. "People take great care in what they eat
and exercise to prevent cardiovascular disease and these type of activities
appear to provide protection for the brain."
-
- Dr Richard Whiting, a geriatrician at Sunshine Hospital,
said the development of a stronger neuronal network make the brain more
resistant to early onset of Alzheimer's. He said the research sent an important
message to young adults that their actions now had great bearing on future
physical and mental health.
-
- "A number of diseases that affect us in old age
can be prevented or have their impact lessened by your education, work
and exercise practices during adulthood," he said.
-
- - with news agencies http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/2001/03/07/FFX7FXPGYJC.html
|
