Do older adults forget as much as they think, or is it rather that they ‘misremember’?
A small study adds to evidence that gist memory plays an important role in false memories at any age, but older adults are more susceptible to misremembering because of their greater use of gist memory.
Data from a ten-year study involving 345 Alzheimer's patients has found that cholinesterase inhibitors work better with those who don't have the gene CHRFAM7A. The gene is a fusion between a gene that codes for an Alpha 7 receptor for acetylcholine, and a kinase, a type of enzyme. It is not present in the animals genetically engineered to provide Alzheimer's models, but is present in 75% of humans.
Elevated cholesterol levels have been linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's later in life, and APOE4 is known to raise levels of circulating cholesterol, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ("bad cholesterol"). A new study has investigated whether LDL is also linked to early-onset Alzheimer's.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 40 older adults (aged 51-84) who had mild memory complaints, found that those given 90 milligrams of curcumin twice daily for 18 months experienced significant improvements in their memory and attention abilities. Those taking curcumin also had mild improvements in mood, and brain scans showed significantly less amyloid and tau signals in the amygdala and hypothalamus, compared with those who took placebos.
Four people taking curcumin, and two taking placebos, experienced mild side effects such as abdominal pain and nausea.
There is a pervasive myth that every detail of every experience we've ever had is recorded in memory. It is interesting to note therefore, that even very familiar objects, such as coins, are rarely remembered in accurate detail1.
We see coins every day, but we don't see them. What we remember about coins are global attributes, such as size and color, not the little details, such as which way the head is pointing, what words are written on it, etc. Such details are apparently noted only if the person's attention is specifically drawn to them.
Resveratrol — an ingredient in red wine that has been implicated in a number of health benefits — has been found to inhibit interleukin 6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory protein that is part of the immune system (although IL-6 can be anti-inflammatory during exercise). Resveratrol does this specifically through its effect on the estrogen receptor, preventing cell proliferation.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-04/sri-sfs042914.php
Brain scans have revealed that those who regularly practiced yoga had larger brain volume in the somatosensory cortex (maps the body), superior parietal cortex (involved in directing attention), visual cortex (perhaps because of visualization techniques), hippocampus, precuneus and the posterior cingulate cortex (the last two involved in our concept of self).
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-yoga-changes-the-brain/
More evidence for early changes in the eye in Alzheimer’s disease comes from a study involving both rats and postmortem human retinas. Changes were found in the retinal pigment epithelial layer (which harbors the supportive cells located in the back of the eye) and in the thickness of the choroidal layer that has blood vessels providing nutrients to the retina.
The finding is consistent with growing evidence that glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disorder similar to Alzheimer’s.
A study involving 206 spousal and adult children caregivers of dementia sufferers (mostly Alzheimer’s) has found that about 84% of caregivers reported a clinically significant burden. Three factors were significant contributors to the burden:
Data from 57,669 older Taiwanese patients (65+) with no dementia at the beginning of the 5-year study has found that the risk of developing dementia was inversely related to statin dosage. Those on the highest doses of statins were three times less likely to develop dementia. The potency of the statins was also a factor, with high potency statins such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin giving the most benefit.
Nearly 10% developed dementia during the study.