What position do Kaiser Permanente members have within the research?
Our volunteers are a very powerful a part of the ACT research. We couldn’t do that work with out them.
We invite older Kaiser Permanente members who’ve acquired care at one in all our amenities within the larger Seattle space to be a part of our research. We decide the individuals we invite at random, which suggests individuals can’t simply volunteer with out being chosen.
Individuals who conform to take part are seen by our research group each different yr. In addition they enable us to make use of the data we accumulate as a part of their routine care to be used in our research. This information helps our analysis group find out how an individual’s well being historical past impacts dementia danger.
What can individuals do to guard their mind well being?
Considered one of our research’s most necessary findings is that individuals can have adjustments of their mind which can be identified to contribute to Alzheimer’s illness and nonetheless by no means develop dementia of their lifetime. That is necessary as a result of it suggests there are elements that may defend us from getting dementia, even when we expertise a few of these mind adjustments with age.
We all know from our analysis that common train can assist forestall or delay dementia. Maintaining your blood stress and blood sugar ranges below management additionally helps. We discovered that prime blood sugar ranges are linked to elevated dementia danger, even in individuals with out diabetes.
For individuals who have cataracts, getting them eliminated could decrease their danger. A research of ACT individuals discovered that cataract surgical procedure lowered the danger of dementia by almost 30%. This can be as a result of individuals get higher enter to their mind after they can see extra clearly.
The ACT research has additionally discovered that greater ranges of air air pollution are a danger issue for dementia. So, listening to air air pollution ranges and making an attempt to remain inside on days with excessive air pollution are good concepts.
What are a few of the questions the ACT research is subsequent?
We’re how our sleep habits and time spent sitting all through the day relate to mind well being.
We’re additionally working to know whether or not widespread medicines could also be related to elevated or decreased dementia danger. And we’re how various kinds of air air pollution (for instance, from site visitors or wildfires) are associated to dementia danger.
We’re studying a lot due to the generosity and dedication of our individuals. I really feel privileged to accomplice with our members on this research. They’re doing a lot to advance the science on stopping dementia.