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Greater purpose in life may help stave off the harmful effects ofplaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease , according to a new study by researchers at Rush UniversityMedical Center. The study, published in the May issue of theArchives of General Psychiatry, is available online.* "Our study showed that people who reported greater purpose in lifeexhibited better cognition than those with less purpose in lifeeven as plaques and tangles accumulated in their brains," saidPatricia A. Boyle, PhD. "These findings suggest that purpose in life protects against theharmful effects of plaques and tangles on memory and other thinkingabilities. This is encouraging and suggests that engaging inmeaningful and purposeful activities promotes cognitive health inold age." Boyle and her colleagues from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Centerstudied 246 participants from the Rush Memory and Aging Project whodid not have dementia and who subsequently died and underwent brain autopsy.Participants received an annual clinical evaluation for up toapproximately 10 years, which included detailed cognitive testingand neurological exams. Participants also answered questions about purpose in life, thedegree to which one derives meaning from life's experiences and isfocused and intentional. Brain plaques and tangles were quantifiedafter death. The authors then examined whether purpose in lifeslowed the rate of cognitive decline even as older personsaccumulated plaques and tangles. While plaques and tangles are very common among persons who developAlzheimer's dementia (characterized by prominent memory loss andchanges in other thinking abilities), recent data suggest thatplaques and tangles accumulate in most older persons, even thosewithout dementia. Plaques and tangles disrupt memory and othercognitive functions. Boyle and colleagues note that much of the Alzheimer's researchthat is ongoing seeks to identify ways to prevent or limit theaccumulation of plaques and tangles in the brain, a task that hasproven quite difficult. Studies such as the current one are neededbecause, until effective preventive therapies are discovered,strategies that minimize the impact of plaques and tangles oncognition are urgently needed. "These studies are challenging because many factors influencecognition and research studies often lack the brain specimen dataneeded to quantify Alzheimer's changes in the brain," Boyle said."Identifying factors that promote cognitive health even as plaquesand tangles accumulate will help combat the already large andrapidly increasing public health challenge posed by Alzheimer'sdisease." Additional References Citations. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Pulse Jet Valves Manufacturer , Electromagnetic Induction Coil Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Pneumatic Solenoid Valves today!
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