Every 22 seconds in the world and every 71 seconds in this country, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and a startling new report out today from the Alzheimer’s Association predicts that one out of every eight baby boomers — or over 10 million Americans — is expected to develop the disease sometime in the near future. If new treatments are years away, is there anything you can do today that might prevent it?
Fran Hershkowitz’s mother began losing her memory more than a decade ago, and now Fran, who is 63, worries if he might be next.
“It’s frightening, too, to think that one day this is going to be me.” the younger Hershkowitz said. Evidence shows that physical exercise may be the most effective remedy today to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, and large health studies have shown that people who stay physically active are less likely to develop the disease. Scientists put that idea to the test. Researchers bred mice to develop the specific kind of plaque in the brain, as seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Some mice were allowed to exercise, and some were not. The autopsy results were stunning. [click to continue…]
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