Dementia Alert for Smarty-Pants Seniors
Written by Kathryn Savage
Back in April, Blue Zones reported on research by James Smith, a health economist at the RAND Corporation, who determined education plays a key role in longevity. Dr. Smith, along with numerous researchers, has determined a few extra years of school, and continued education into adulthood, improves mental and physical health, decades later. 
Now, scientists are debating if there are any risk-factors associated with all that brain power. Specifically, are seniors less likely to be diagnosed properly with early warning signs of dementia, and sent for further testing by their doctors, if they have a higher IQ? Evidently, yes.
A recent report finds that college graduates may have a bigger “cognitive reserve” and that means when being screened for dementia, they may “mask symptoms” and appear to function normally. I think of it like this - I’m bad at math, don’t ask me to file my own taxes, do long division, or help you figure out the tip. If you’re testing my math skills against an engineering professor, guess whose got a bigger brain power reserve? Exactly. Or more to the point, think about muscles, if you pump iron every morning, you’re going to out-perform a five year old when it comes to heavy lifting. The brain, like biceps, is stronger when it’s toned. And all this brain power is good, but it may prevent doctors from properly diagnosing patients with early symptoms of dementia.
The test under investigation is the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), that assesses cognitive functioning. Traditionally, if you score 24 or below, further testing is necessary to rule out, or rule in, dementia.
Based on new research, that looked at 1,141 seniors enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer Disease Research Center and Alzheimer Disease Patient Registry,
published in the July issue of the Archives of Neurology, patients who are college educated, are encouraged to receive additional testing if their MMSE score is less than 27.
Protect those braincells...
If you’re well educated, and you’re going to receive an MMSE exam soon, request additional testing if your score is 27 or below. This could mean earlier detection of dementia and a more positive treatment course.
| Next > |
|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
