An alarming study entitled Association Between Migraine Headaches and Dementia in More than 7,400 Patients Followed in General Practices in the United Kingdom was just published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. The researchers found that the risk for ALzheimer’s and other dementias is increased only in women with migraines and not in men.
The first large study to discover an association between migraines and dementia was done in Taiwan. Interestingly, a follow-up study in Taiwan discovered that people who used traditional Chinese medicine (mostly herbal products Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San and Yan-Hu-Suo) had lower risk of dementia than those who did not.
There is no need to panic since other studies have found no such association and there is a wide range of preventive measures that are proven effective.
Controlling ones blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol level, and avoiding smoking are extremely important in lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s.
The single most effective preventive measure is regular physical exercise, which is more effective than mental exercise. Engaging in mental activities, such as learning languages, solving crossword puzzles, and playing bridge (which adds the benefit of social contacts) can also help. Dancing and tai chi combine physical and social benefits. Meditation appears to be effective in preventing shrinkage of the brain, which used to be thought a normal part of aging. This was confirmed in more than one study.
In addition to Chinese herbal products mentioned above, there are several other supplements that are also less proven but are safe and may help prevent Alzheimer’s. These include vitamins B12 and D, magnesium, curcurmin, nicotinamide, and possibly other.
