Language 'predicts dementia risk'

[Praxius]

The study was carried out on nuns

BBC NEWS | Health | Language 'predicts dementia risk'

People with superior language skills early in life may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease decades later, research suggests. A team from Johns Hopkins University studied the brains of 38 Catholic nuns after death. They found those with good language skills early in life were less likely to have memory problems - even if their brains showed signs of dementia damage. The study appears online in the journal Neurology...... ..... They divided the women into those with memory problems and signs of dementia damage in the brain, and those whose memory was unaffected regardless of whether or not they showed signs of dementia damage. And they also analysed essays that 14 of the women wrote as they entered the convent in their late teens or early 20s, assessing them for complexity of language and grammar. The study showed that language scores were 20% higher in women without memory problems than those with signs of a malfunctioning memory. The grammar score did not show any difference between the two groups. Lead researcher Dr Juan Troncoso said: "Despite the small number of participants in this portion of the study, the finding is a fascinating one." "Our results show that an intellectual ability test in the early 20s may predict the likelihood of remaining cognitively normal five or six decades later, even in the presence of a large amount of Alzheimer's disease pathology.".....

So how much "Faith" do you put in this study?

[stardust]

It makes sense. There must be a scientific reason behind.

[Praxius]

Quote by: stardust It makes sense. There must be a scientific reason behind.

Well another study I found a while back claimed that the elderly who actually use the internet and communicate with people online also have a significant reduction in contracting Alzheimers because of the continual stimulus of the brain and learning new things. It also can help reduce the effects of those who may have just begun showing symptoms.

They also said video games, esspecially ones that are physically active like the Wii help a lot as well and a few retirement homes around where I live have a couple setup for the residents and they seem to enjoy it. I can't find the links at present and a few of the reports was on TV.

So to me it makes sense.... the more you keep your brain active, the less chance it'll rot.

Like a muscle, if you don't keep it active, it weakens.

That's why it's usually those old fuddy duddies who are stuck in their way, cranky as all hell and are not interested in all that new fangled gadetry who tend to be the first to go a little senile.

As soon as you stop living, you stop living.... er.... yeah.

[stardust]

Yeah. But ofcourse Vitamin deficiency (especially Vitamin B) is one of the main causes of Alzhemiers. Other than that, even exercise helps boosting your memory. Because obviously it increases the rate of flow of blood, and oxygen thereby to the Brain.

[barts]

Quote by: Praxius So how much "Faith" do you put in this study?

Given that my language skills have rendered you apoplectic, I take some comfort in the study.

[gallo]

Quote by: Praxius Well another study I found a while back claimed that the elderly who actually use the internet and communicate with people online also have a significant reduction in contracting Alzheimers because of the continual stimulus of the brain and learning new things. It also can help reduce the effects of those who may have just begun showing symptoms. They also said video games, esspecially ones that are physically active like the Wii help a lot as well and a few retirement homes around where I live have a couple setup for the residents and they seem to enjoy it. I can't find the links at present and a few of the reports was on TV.

Let's see. I use the internet. I used to play video games a lot. My sons and I used to compete on video games when they were in high school. It went on on a daily basis. I also take a statin drug on a daily basis which, studies have indicated, tend to prevent or greatly delay the onset of Alzheimers.

So....what was I going to say? I forget.