As you say Joan, a correlation doesn't give definitive answers. Just because two things happen together doesn't mean one causes the other.

If you take a population of 75 year olds, you can be pretty sure that a fairly large number of them will develop dementia by age 80, if they live that long. We know this from statistics gathered on huge samples over time.

It is entirely possible that those 75 yos who are going to develop dementia in the next 5 years already have the pathology (the tangles the clumps the plaques -- depending on the type of dementia) starting in their brains. Maybe that is WHY they are less active. They are already less healthy, without the outward signs showing yet. Those seniors who were able to burn 1000 calories a day may simply be healthier (in the brain) to start with. Do I know that to be the case? Certainly not. But it is another viable interpretation of this data.

Again, I am all in favor of promoting activity at all stages of life. I actively and deliberately promote activity for my husband. His neurologist thinks activity -- social, mental, and physical -- is good for him, and so do I. I am not against the basic premise that exercise contributes to good health and certainly good health is a supremely valuable goal. Let me say it again: Exercise is good at every age, and to the extend that it is possible, even among people with dementia.

But drawing the conclusion from this study the notion that routine activity -- taking out the trash -- prevents dementia is giving the simple study way more power than it deserves.

Thank you Jeanne . I did notice the contradiction and believe the latter view i.e. that caregivers are at higher risk for dementia and/or early death. The types of activities that caregivers are engaged in come under the umbrella of increased activity in general, I think, and therefore may contribute to overall better health. One does not have to run miles or pump iron in the gym to benefit from exercise. Hauling groceries, walking the dog, doing the laundry and other household chores all qualify as movement, and movement uses muscle and results in improved strength and circulation. Being active, as well as following a healthy diet MAY contribute to decreasing your chances of developing dementia in general - or a certain type if dementia.. However the stress of caregiving may well offset the benefits of those activities.

There are studies such as the one you quote where the structure of the protein in question has been identified. Other types of studies look at, for example, correlations between life style and dementias. Of course, correlations are just that and don't give definitive answers, but they do give people ideas for action that MAY help.

I can understand why you find this article frustrating as it suggests there may be simple answers, which there are not at present.

(((((hugs))))) to you. It must be very hard to see your mate experiencing the decline that comes with his disease and also deal with the deficits on a daily basis. He is very fortunate to have you as a spouse. And we at Aging Care are fortunate to have your intelligent and caring input.

Thank you Joan. Well said.

Notice that this study gives credit to caregiving tasks as one of the ways to stay active. And other studies posted on this site show that caregivers are at higher risk for dementia and/or early death.

All over the globe there is urgent, rigorous, peer-reviewed research going on, to find the cause and cure and preventatives for progressive dementia. Some of science's best minds are addressing these issues. We will know more. (Just last month study results were published identifying the native structure of the protein that clumps in the brains of persons with Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia. Progress is being made.)

It just strikes me as so simplistic to have a headline like "Daily chores may prevent dementia." Being active contributes to good health. Being active is good. But preventing dementia? Oh come on. I'm not buying that for a nanosecond.

(((((((((jeanne))))))))))) just to be clear about my post - not blaming at all. Of course, there are no easy answers and the mechanisms are complex. Dementias seem to be like cancers - not one disease, but several different diseases and causes e.g.some genetic, some environmental. I don't see anyone saying that is why your husband has dementia or that "taking out the trash" will prevent dementia. The article says it may prevent cognotive decliine. I think some of us are saying that we believe that a healthy lifestyle works towards keeping our bodies in such condition that they function well, and also deal better with disease. In the absence of more information, it is what we can do to help ourselves stay free of illness - not that it always be successful.

Anybody want to tell coach Pat Summitt that she has early onset Alzheimer's because she did not lead a sufficiently active life style? Don't anyone dare to tell me that is why my husband has dementia -- I won't be responsible for my answer, and it will probably be pulled by the site administrator.

The mechanisms that result in dementia are complex and are just know beginning to be understood. There is NO EASY ANSWER, like be more active and you won't get dementia.

Healthy lifestyles lead, generally, to better health. Health is good. No on disputes that, I hope. But a limited study of a few hundred people does not prove anything about how to prevent dementia.

Sorry. I just get tired of all the blame-the-victim stuff surrounding dementia.

I am with you, ishmael. It is the habits of a lifetime with regard to diet and exercise and I would add stress management. There are some hints coming out about ties between diet and Alz - not proof yet, but some connections that bear further investigation. Your body and brain are parts of the whole being and it only stands to reason what you do to your body affects your brain. Brain cells are very dependent on well regulated blood glucose levels to function properly, which in turn require appropriate diet and also good blood flow. Good lymphatic drainage is part of that too. We have been so brainwashed about relying on medical intervention rather than healthy lifestyle. Most cases of Type 2 diabetes can be "cured" or at least managed by changes in diet and by exercise, without medication, and there are additional benefits to the individual who takes this approach - lower rates of certains cancers for example.

Time to go watch a a movie with my 105 yo grandma, so I can't write an essay now.

But this is NOT "such crap".

What is "such crap" is our whole attitude of doing whatever the heck you feel like diet-and-exercise-wise for your whole life and then expecting a miracle cure once you've succeeded at jacking your body and/or brain.

This article and its implied line of thought has to do with PREVENTION, ie seeking a possible path to disease-resistent super-health.

Out of time now, but the "activity" mentioned here would be a big boost to lymphatic function or garbage removal of metabolic (and other) waste.

This is such crap! Some weird Ph.D. thesis. Those with dementia can't DO ADLs. This is the whole issue.

Well,trying to get my Dementia mom to do anything is a challenge in it's self. it say's that that is a preventitive measure against dementia,i disagree.my mom was a cleaning and neatness fanatic,she now does not care at all.
And what the heck is chemically modified water!!

Interesting, but not conclusive. Did the activity make the seniors less likely to develop dementia, or was the state of their health what made them able to be more active?

I don't think anyone disputes that activity/exercise is good for us. But since we do not know what causes dementia it is pretty hard to say what prevents it.

According to the article some old people don't do daily chores. I thought everyone did them.

Also the calorie burning was used to measure activity. I wonder if it could be the other way around and measure dementia. In other words does inactivity create dementia.

Interesting article. Thanks.