Those momentary memory lapses that typically accompany aging may not be so normal after all. A new study links common forgetfulness in old age to strokes and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago studied the mental acuity 354 Catholic nuns, priests and brothers for 16 years. Autopsies conducted after their deaths revealed that brain lesions caused by abnormal proteins and neurofibrillary tangles were present among all the participants who showed even mild or moderate mental decline during the study. These proteins and tangles are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers also noted evidence of stroke in all those with mild or moderate mental decline.
The good news, according to researchers, is that the mild memory lapses associated with old age did not predict the development of Alzheimer's. They also did not correlate with dementia at the end of the study. Also, not all participants had the same level of lesions. This suggests there could be other causes for mental decline in the years before death. The report appears in the Sept. 15 issue of the journal Neurology.
Thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteThe study you presented is very interesting, and optimistic in a way. The many discoveries we have been making about the physiology of alzheimer's and dementia is truly remarkable. I think it good news to hear that not all memory lapses are predictive of alzheimer's or dementia. This is great news for those of us who may have experienced it or witness it in our loved ones or patients. Alzheimers can sometimes come to mind when you witness a memory loss, so this is great information to put people's worries to rest. Thank you for sharing!
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