Insufficient evidence for Alzheimer's prevention?

Many preventive measures for cognitive decline and for preventing Alzheimer's disease -- mental stimulation, exercise, and a variety of dietary supplements -- have been studied over the years. However, an independent panel convened by the National Institutes of Health determined that the value of these strategies for delaying the onset and/or reducing the severity of decline or disease hasn't been demonstrated in rigorous studies.

The panel recommended that the research community and clinicians collaborate to develop, test, and uniformly adopt objective measures of baseline cognitive function and changes over time. Although many non-modifiable risk factors have been examined, age is the strongest known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, a genetic variant of a cholesterol-ferrying protein (apolipoprotein E), has strong evidence of association with the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Although it is hoped that improved understanding of genetic risk factors may ultimately lead to effective therapies, currently these associations are primarily useful in the clinical research setting.

The panel determined that there is currently no evidence of even moderate scientific quality supporting the association of any modifiable factor -- dietary supplement intake, use of prescription or non-prescription drugs, diet, exercise, and social engagement -- with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. The evidence surrounding risk reduction for cognitive decline is similarly limited. Low-grade evidence shows weak associations between many lifestyle choices and reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline.

The panel made a variety of recommendations to shape the future research agenda and fill identified gaps, while acknowledging that advancing our understanding of these complex conditions in order to develop conclusive, evidence-based prevention recommendations will require considerable time and resources.

Bonnie - you've got to be kidding me? This reeks of a pitch for more donations for Alzheimer's research because donors have soured on the lack of progress. All the money that has flowed into Alzheimer''s organizations has brought us where exactly? The drugs don't work, the lifestyle modification doesn't work. Will the Alzheimer's Association go the way of the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, who have raked in billions over the years, and have gotten us where exactly with those diseases?

The message of this panel is different from what many researchers are saying. Lifestyle makes ALL the difference. If I have Alzheimer's in my family history, am I going to just throw up my hands after hearing this panel's message and say why bother? Absolutely not. I'm not going to wait twenty years for them to figure it out. As we have seen with the AHA and ACS, we've waited many decades with no "cure." I am going to continue recommending that my clients optimize their diet, take dietary supplements, limit environmental toxic exposure, do physical and mental exercises, stress management, etc., etc., etc. With this protocol, I'll take my chances on beating Alzheimer's.