A combination of physical activity, nutritious diet, mental stimulation and social engagement has the potential to defer or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), said Ralph Martins, Foundation Professor in Ageing and Alzheimer's, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
Delivering the 24{+t}{+h} K. Gopalakrishna Endowment Oration on Saturday, Mr. Martins said recent studies had clearly indicated that physical exercise could bring down amyloid levels. Similarly, a recent study of over 3,000 persons above 65 years has showed that those with the highest vegetable intake were associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline over a six-year period. Pomegranate, green tea, fish and curcumin could also act as anti-amyloid agents, he said. Amyloids are to AD as cholesterol is to heart disease.
As there are currently no treatments to stop the progression of AD and with rapid change in lifestyles, the ageing population was at great risk, he said.
While hypertension, obesity and vascular diseases could lead to early onset of AD, physical activity, mental stimulation, anti-oxidants and social engagements could defer its onset, Mr. Martins said.
Researchers around the world are beginning to make breakthroughs in early diagnosis to enable physicians identify signs of AD to intervene with preventive therapies, he said, adding that his team of young researchers studied blood samples, eye, bio-markers and data mining to come up with early diagnostic techniques.
Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy, honorary secretary, VHS; Gayathri Sriram, Managing Director, UCAL Products Private Limited and C.V. Karthik Narayanan, Director, Union Company Motors, were present.
