While digging through the NPR health blog we found a fascinating article that stated Men are more apt than women to lose thinking ability as they age according to recent research. Even more fascinating was the fact that people can reduce their risk of mild cognitive impairments by staying healthy and educated!
The study followed 1,450 people between the ages of 70 and 89 in Olmsted County, Minn., who were free of dementia in 2004. They went through testing every 15 months. After three years, 296 people had developed mild cognitive impairment. The study was published in the journal Neurology. Men were more likely to be diagnosed, with 72 per 1,000 people developing a mild cognitive impairment; in women, the rate of diagnosis was 57 per 1,000. Overall, 6 percent were diagnosed with memory loss.
A diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment doesn’t mean you are fated to get Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists continue to work on a reliable test of who’s likely to go down that road.
So how can you reduce the risk of obtaining mild cognitive impairments? Risk Factors of Mild Cognitive Impairments determined by the research include lower levels of education and Cardiovascular Disease. They found ways to improve cognitive functioning by mentally challenging yourself with puzzles, readings, etc. and continuing to maintain health through a healthy diet and exercise.