Alzheimer Awareness Month

The importance of prevention

"Understanding Alzheimer's: Prevention and Resources"

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that impacts memory, cognition, and behaviour. It is a condition that affects millions of people around the globe, with a significant number being individuals over the age of 65 and a higher prevalence in women. Given its high numbers and severe impact on individuals' quality of life, it receives substantial attention within the medical and healthcare communities. Although there is still no cure for Alzheimer's or other dementias, there is a lot that can be done to influence the onset.

In this blog post, we want to emphasise the importance of prevention and name some preventative activities for your daily life.

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Did you know?

Alzheimer's disease was first described in the early 1900, over a hundred years ago. Right now, there is an estimate of 50 million people affected by dementia [1], and we are now able to predict, that by the year of 2050 the cases will have doubled. Austria's cases for example will rise from 146,801 (1.66% of the population) to 290,499 (3.18% of the population) by 2050 [2]. Those numbers suggest, that prevention and early detection will have to even play a greater role, than they already do.

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Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is commonly associated with memory loss. As a matter of fact, it manifests through a range of cognitive and behavioural symptoms. Alzheimer's disease can stay in the stage of mild-cognitive-impairment for years, before symptoms worsen and people can't care for themselves. Symptoms can be:

• Memory Loss: Difficulty recalling recent events or information, impacting daily functioning.

• Challenges in Planning or Problem-Solving: Increased difficulty with tasks requiring concentration, such as managing finances.

• Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks: Routine activities become challenging.

• Confusion with Time or Place: Loss of track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time.

• Trouble Understanding Visual Information and Spatial Relationships: Difficulty with reading, judging distances, or recognising familiar faces.

• Problems with Speaking or Writing: Struggles with conversations and finding the right words.

• Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps: Leads to frustration and suspicion.

• Decreased or Poor Judgment: Impaired decision-making, particularly in financial matters.

• Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities: Avoidance of social engagements and hobbies leading to social isolation.

• Changes in Mood and Personality: Increased anxiety, confusion, depression, and mood swings.
  

Importance of Early Detection

Symptoms related to Alzheimer's can cause social isolation and a lack of participation in everyday life, hobbies or events. Prevention and early detection can make a difference in the person diagnosed and their caregivers.

• Optimising Treatment Plans: Timely interventions can slow disease progression and improve quality of life.

• Patient and Family Education: Preparation for future care needs and informed decision-making.

• Enhancing Clinical Outcomes: Early interventions, including lifestyle adjustments and cognitive stimulation, can have a significant impact.

Alzheimer's Prevention

With ageing population, the numbers of Alzheimer and dementia diagnosis are projected to rise. Approximately half of Alzheimer’s disease cases worldwide may be attributable to known risk factors [3]. Studies have shown that, although the genetic risk factors are recognised, protective factors to delay the onset of the disease can be strengthened throughout life [4]. This includes:

• A healthy lifestyle in general

• A healthy diet

• Increased neuronal activities

• Cognitive stimulation

• Exercise

• Psychosocial factors

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The Role of Cognitive Stimulation in Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

Cognitive Stimulation - Exercise for the brain

Engaging in cognitive stimulative activities is known to enhance brain function and promote neuroplasticity, aiding in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. In cases of mild to moderate Alzheimer's can help improve resting-state functional connectivity in learning and memory associated brain regions [5].

Enhancing Neuroplasticity	Strengthens neural connections and promotes new neuron growth, improving brain health
Building Cognitive Reserve	Increases cognitive reserve through complex activities, helping the brain adapt to changes
Improving Memory and Executive Function	Regular stimulation improves memory, attention, problem-solving, and executive function, reducing cognitive decline risk
Encouraging Lifelong Learning	Continuous mental challenges keep the brain active, vital for cognitive health.
Reducing Risk Factors	Cognitive activities manage and reduce Alzheimer's risk factors, such as stress and depression

Exercise for the brain - stay active

Effective cognitive stimulation activities can be diverse activities throughout the day. For some inspiration, we listed some activities that can help you keep your brain cells active.

• Language Learning: Start a course at your local CLC - Community Learning centre, go to the library, or download an app.

• Other Educational Courses: Ceramic, Rhetoric, Art, Computer, and many other courses can usually be found in every bigger city. If you live remotely, you could also start a course at an online learning platform.

• Puzzles and Games: Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and other games can be either played as a paper-pen- version, as an offline app, or online. Don't forget about the social aspect - invite your friends or start a (online) gaming group among them.

• Volunteering: Go to your local animal shelter, help out the local soup kitchen or go to the library and become enlisted in the reading-buddy-program. It helps staying socially connected and while doing something new and exciting, you are actively exercising your brain.

• Reading and Writing: Regular engagement in reading and/or writing activities helps maintain cognitive function. You don't have to do this alone, you could find a (online) book-club, or engage in a writing class.

Free Resources for Enhancing Neuroplasticity

In addition to professional tools like COGNIBRI, numerous free apps and resources can help you stay active and boost your cognitive functions:

• Duolingo: An interactive language learning application which can engage memory and neuroplasticity through gamified lessons.
  

• Coursera: Accessible courses offered by universities, providing a platform for continuous learning and stimulating cognitive engagement across diverse subjects.
  

• Khan Academy: A comprehensive resource for exploring new topics and expanding knowledge horizons through accessible and informative lessons.
  

• Sudoku: A stimulating puzzle game perfect for passing time while waiting at the doctor's office, promoting mental agility and problem-solving skills.
  

• Crossword Puzzles: Available both in traditional print and through digital platforms, crossword puzzles offer an engaging mental exercise to enhance vocabulary.
  

• Quality Time with Grandkids: Engaging in playful activities with grandchildren not only fosters family bonds but also provides opportunities for cognitive stimulation and learning.
  

• Stay Curious!: Embrace a mindset of curiosity and lifelong learning to continually engage and challenge your cognitive abilities, fostering mental resilience and growth.
  

• Ask Your Occupational Therapist About COGNIBRI: Inquire with your occupational therapist about incorporating COGNIBRI into your personalised therapy plan to further support cognitive health and well-being.

How COGNIBRI can help health-care professionals providing cognitive stimulation

For patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's, referrals to occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech-language pathologists are common. Maintaining participation is a key therapeutic goal. Technology, such as COGNIBRI, can significantly enhance cognitive stimulation efforts:

• Increased Patient Engagement: Gamified activities boost motivation and adherence to therapy.

• Enhanced Cognitive Stimulation: Interactive games target various cognitive functions like memory, attention, and problem-solving.

• Personalised Therapy: Customisable exercises meet individual patient needs.
  

COGNIBRI is a web-app designed for healthcare professionals treating patients with diagnoses affecting cognitive functions, like neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. Key features include:

• Customisable Exercises: Tailored to address specific cognitive deficits.

• Client Management Tools: Track patient progress, set goals, and adjust therapy plans.

• Engaging Interface: Gamified approach enhances patient motivation and engagement.

• Evidence-Based Approach: Grounded in scientific research, ensuring effective interventions.

Are you a healthcare professional?

Finding the right resources for your clients, providing them with just the right amount of challenge for their daily exercise and staying on top of documentation and your admin-duties... Sounds familiar? COGNIBRI can make your life easier. It gives you a range of exercises to choose from and allows you to adjust the settings to make it easy for your patients to practice, even without your direct supervision. You can track their progress and print reports, so you are prepared for the next teammeeting. Are you interested? Join our waitlist and be the first to know when our Demoversion will be available.

Go to COGNIBRI

We hope you enjoyed reading the blog and could get some ideas to keep your brain fit. We would love to hear your ideas for healthy-brain-activities. Don't forget to link us on facebook or LinkedIn.

References:

1. Alzheimer’s Disease International, ed. World Alzheimer Report 2018 - The state of the art of dementia research: New frontiers.

2. Alzheimer Europe. Dementia in Europe Yearbook 2019, Estimating the Prevalence of Dementia in Europe. https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/sites/default/files/alzheimer_europe_dementia_in_europe_yearbook_2019.pdf

3. Smith AD, Yaffe K. Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) can be prevented: statement supported by international experts. J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;38(4):699-703. doi:10.3233/JAD-132372

4. Sindi S, Mangialasche F, Kivipelto M. Advances in the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. F1000Prime Rep. 2015;7:50. doi:10.12703/P7-50

5. Behfar Q, Richter N, Kural M, Clemens A, Behfar SK, Folkerts AK, Fassbender R, Kalbe E, Fink GR, Onur OA. Improved connectivity and cognition due to cognitive stimulation in Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Aug 17;15:1140975. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1140975. PMID: 37662551; PMCID: PMC10470843.