SIMPLE TRICKS TO WARD OFF DEMENTIA

THE most common cause of death in the UK is dementia and it’s a condition that I, like so many people, take a close interest in.

So there were shockwaves around the world with the recent news that a long-held theory about what causes Alzheimer’s (the most common type of dementia) may not only be wrong, but is based on manipulated data.

Science, a leading research journal, uncovered ‘shockingly blatant’ tampering of results in an influential study published in 2006. This study had provided important support for the theory that Alzheimer’s is largely caused by a build-up of a protein called amyloid in the brain, which in turn damages brain cells, leading to loss of memory and cognitive ability. In 2006, a University of Minnesota study on mice seemed to show a clear link between amyloid and dementia. Drug companies piled in — yet despite billions spent on developing drugs to target amyloid, there have been no real successes (and some drugs seemed to even make patients worse). The good news is that researchers are looking at other approaches, including new ways to boost the brain through neurogenesis — creating new brain cells. For example, a study published last week in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found that genetic manipulation increases the production of new brain cells in mice with Alzheimer’s and restores memory.

Using this technique in humans is some way off, but another more unusual approach to neurogenesis involves spending time in a hyperbaric chamber, a bit like those used to treat divers with the bends.

In a study published last year in the journal Aging, six people with an average age of 70 who were all showing signs of memory loss underwent a series of sessions in a hyperbaric chamber: the changes in pressure and rising and falling oxygen levels increased blood flow to their brains by around 20 per cent, with an average 16.5 per cent improvement in memory scores. A simpler way to improve blood flow to the brain is exercise, in particular press ups or squats — these involve moving your head up and down against gravity, which leads to big changes in blood flow. This releases brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a hormone that acts like a fertiliser for the brain.

You could also try intermittent fasting — a study by King’s College London showed it improves long-term memory and leads to the generation of new brain cells in mice.

Another established approach for growing new brain cells is to challenge your brain by taking up a hobby such as learning a new language, painting or dancing.