Mental lapses among older people occur more often in those developing Alzheimer’s disease than in their healthy peers, according to new research.

Cognitive fluctuations like excessive daytime sleepiness, staring into space and disorganized or illogical thinking are mental fluctuations that often precede Alzheimer’s, say researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

"If you have these lapses, they don't by themselves mean that you have Alzheimer's," says senior author James Galvin. "Such lapses do occur in healthy older adults. But our results suggest that they are something your doctor needs to consider if he or she is evaluating you for problems with thinking and memory."

Researchers evaluated more than 500 older adults with memory problems. They were given standard tests of thinking and memory skills, and researchers interviewed participants and family members.

Those with mental lapses were 4.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Of 216 diagnosed with very mild or mild dementia, 25 had mental lapses; of the 295 with no dementia, only two had mental lapses.

Galvin said further study is needed to determine the best way to include mental lapses in diagnostic procedures for Alzheimer's.

Exercise May Prevent Mental Decline for Seniors

Two new studies suggest that exercise may help prevent and improve mild cognitive impairment. Researchers found that people who did moderate physical activity in midlife or later had a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment, and that six months of high-intensity aerobic exercise improved cognitive function in people with mild impairment.

In one study, 1,324 dementia-free volunteers taking part in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging completed a physical exercise questionnaire and were assessed as having normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment is an in-between state between the normal changes in thinking, learning and memory that come with age and dementia.

Those who said they did moderate exercise, such as swimming, brisk walking, yoga, aerobics or strength training, were 39 percent less likely to have cognitive impairment.

According to a report in Health Day, Mayo researchers said exercise may guard against mild cognitive impairment through production of nerve-protecting compounds, increased blood flow to the brain, improved development and survival or neurons, and decreased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases.

The second study included adults with an average age of 70 who had mild cognitive impairment. They were randomly assigned to do high-intensity aerobics or to a control group that did stretching exercises and kept their heart rate low. After six months, those in the high-intensity group had improved cognitive function compared to those in the control group.

The Top Ten Fears of Elderly Adults

Many of the fears that aging adults experience relate to the biggest challenge they say they face: staying active. According to a recent survey conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care network, seniors worry about the future, beginning with the loss of their independence.*

    1.    Loss of independence.

    2.    Declining health.

    3.    Running out of money.

    4.    Not being able to live at home.

    5.    Death of a spouse or other family member.

    6.    Inability to manage their own activities of daily living.

    7.    Not being able to drive.

    8.    Isolation or loneliness.

    9.    Strangers caring for them.

    10.    Fear of falling or hurting themselves.

“We regularly see seniors who are literally trapped in their homes because they are too weak to perform many of the activities they need to remain safe and independent, or to even enjoy life,” says Home Instead Senior Care Co-Founder and CEO Paul Hogan. “That’s why staying active is viewed by so many as vital to healthy aging.”

Home Instead Senior Care's New Year Resolutions for seniors 

Now that the Christmas excesses are behind us, many people of all ages are ready to start anew and make their New Year's resolution. To help seniors live a healthier and more active life, Home Instead Senior Care, a trusted source of home care for seniors recommends the following New Year's resolutions:

* Start exercising - It is never too late to start exercising and for seniors, regular exercise can help improve your health and overall quality of your life. It also helps improve your balance which will help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile.

* Assess your medical health - Prevention really is better than cure and visiting your doctor will help identify any potential health problems allowing you to take steps to prevent or treat illness early.

* Make new friends - After the death of a spouse or loved friends and family members, many seniors find themselves alone. Being lonely is hard on our health and affects our immune systems so it is so important seniors reach out to people. Developing new friendships can ward off depression and make life feel worthwhile again.

* Learn new things - You are never too old to learn new things - research actually shows that training and learning reignites the brain and improves memory. Many local schools and colleges offer adult learning programmes that you may be interested in, such as language classes.

* Fall proof your home - 82% of accidents to people over the age of 75 are fall related. A home visit by an occupational therapist will help identify risk factors and tell you what to do to make your home safer. For example you may want to avoid throw rugs or have cracks and uneven pathways repaired.

For further information on tips to keep seniors healthy log onto www.seniorsbayarea.com or call (877) 808-2700.