- With Mayo Clinic health education outreach coordinator
Angela Lunde
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Angela Lunde
Angela Lunde is a dementia education specialist in the education core of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Clinic in Rochester, Minn.The transfer of information about dementias, as well as understanding the need for participation in clinical trials, is an essential component of the education core.
Angela is a member of the of the Alzheimer's Association Program Services Advisory Council, co-chair of the Advanced Practice Professional Education track for the Minnesota State Dementia Conference, and a member of D-BART (Dementia-Behavioral Assessment and Response Team), a multidisciplinary outreach service assisting professional and family caregivers in understanding and managing difficult behaviors often present in dementia.
Angela takes a personal interest in understanding the complex changes that take place within relationships and among families when dementia is present. She is particularly interested in providing innovative and accessible ways for people with dementia and their families to receive information and participate in valuable programs.
"Amid a devastating disease there are tools, therapies, programs, and ways to cope, it is vital that families are connected to these resources," she said.
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Alzheimer's blog
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March 25, 2008
Preventing Alzheimer's: Exercise still best bet
By Angela Lunde
A report last week from the Alzheimer's Association predicts that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's disease in the United States — that translates to one out of every eight. For us "baby boomers," this is frightening to say the least.
There are new treatments on the horizon, but we all wonder whether or not they will be available in time for us or even our children. Let's keep hoping for a cure or prevention model by supporting research in whatever way we can. Meanwhile, studies continue to point to physical exercise as the most effective therapy today to prevent Alzheimer's.
Mounting evidence suggests that physical activity may have benefits beyond a healthy heart and body weight. Through the past several years, population studies have suggested that exercise which raises your heart rate for at least 30 minutes several times a week can lower your risk of Alzheimer's. Physical activity appears to inhibit Alzheimer's-like brain changes in mice, slowing the development of a key feature of the disease.
In one observational study, investigators looked at the relationship of physical activity and mental function in about 6,000 women age 65 and older, over an 8 year period. They found that the women who were more physically active were less likely to experience a decline in their mental function than inactive women.
Another compelling study, conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago, was highlighted on ABC News last week. The study used mice bred to develop Alzheimer's type plaque in the brain. In the study, some mice were allowed to exercise and others were not. The brains in the physically active mice had 50 to 80 percent less plaque than the brains of the sedentary mice and they (exercising mice) produced significantly more of an enzyme in the brain that prevents plaque.
Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Alzheimer's Research Center at the Mayo Clinic, said on ABC: "Regular physical exercise is probably the best means we have of preventing Alzheimer's disease today, better than medications, better than intellectual activity, better than supplements and diet."
15 comments posted
June 18, 2009 1:43 p.m.
my grandfather came down with alzheimers in his 40's and it looks like I am going down the same path...I am 42 year old Female,I was a long distance runner now I am a walker---always to help with my depression ...and so I can eat what I want...Now I am on EGCG (Green Tea Tablets)The neurologist's do not like my brain size or the atrophy they see, I am on a fight for my life right now....to see if my memory is going to start fading away
- Marilou
March 31, 2009 10:10 a.m.
My Father and Mother have had ALTZ. I am concerned for myself. I am healthy and very busy with life and taking care of my mother. I exercise and eat healthy...I'm not sure if that's goods enough. I really need to do more but not sure what!
- Peggy Burke
August 29, 2008 1:28 p.m.
I have no alzheimer's disease in my family and have always eaten well and excercized from martial arts and power yoga to competing in the national championships in water sking. I think getting it is just random. Some of us, like me, are just unlucky.
- huntlong
April 24, 2008 9:23 p.m.
Cynthia your comments hit home for me so much, like you I have vowed NOT to fail away like my mom causing so much stress for the family. But how do we avoid this from happening? I am sorry you have suffered so much.
- merle
April 22, 2008 11:32 p.m.
my father died last year from alzheimers my mother has it her father and sister had it my fathers sister also had it I am sure I will too. As a babyboomer I vow not to let my children watch me slowly fade away taking care of my parents and kids has enforced the conviction that when the mind goes so should the body
- cynthia
April 22, 2008 4:42 p.m.
While I have no doubts about the benefits of exercise as a preventive measure for Alzheimer's and most other ills, it does not guarantee a person will not be stricken. My wife hiked, walked, exercised at the health club 3 times a week and is now in the sixth stage of Alzheimer's disease. She too suffered a head injury as the result of a horse accident. Even though she was wearing a helmet, she suffered a severe, closed head injury. After 3 days in ICU, 3 days in intermediate care and 3 weeks in rehab, she returned home with only about 50% functionality! Since then she has followed the steady decline associated with Alzheimer's (she was diagnosed with probable Alz in 2004). Remaining healthy and keeping your mind and body active is good advice for avoiding any number of maladies but, as research is beginning to demonstrate, Alzheimer's disease seems to have a number of probable sources. Only time will tell how to get a handle on them. Meanwhile, please support Alzheimer's research. Sincerely, Richard Spouse/caregiver
- Richard
April 4, 2008 11:50 p.m.
My mom had Alzheimers, and she was active; walking daily, and staying physically and mentally involved with community and church people and activities. The hood of her car fell and hit her on the head; I've read a lot about this as well as being a possible cause. We need more research; it's a terrible disease to watch a loved one go through...losing them a little bit at a time.
- Marie
April 3, 2008 3:12 p.m.
Until we have more concrete ideas about what causes AZ, lets all walk and exercise daily. At least we are doing what the research shows now as beneficial. My mom has dementia and never exercised regularly, this is a terrible disease for her and our family. Go for a walk right now, it can't hurt!
- merle
April 3, 2008 2:59 p.m.
I am 90 in sept o8, I believe developing AZ, is directly related to your genes, my mother lived til 94, and was great til she passed on. I believe I inherited her genes.Hope so anyway.also I have been active all my life, baseball, golfing curling and playing bridge.
- jackie
April 2, 2008 5:30 p.m.
April 2 2008 3.08 PM I have been actively engaged in all kinds of exercise, also yoga, dance. etc. I try to eat a balanced diet. also, keep my brain active, doing crossword puzzles,go to lectures re:new ideas, to keep upon any new ideas. I am on blood pressure medication, have normal weight. In other words I'm doing everythig recommended to fight this terrible disease. I am 84 years old . The only thing that I can complain about at the moment is, "words" In conversation I know what I'm going to speak about when a word will not come out of my mouth. It's like it's been blocked out for that moment. It comes back to mind as soon as I go on to something else.
- Solange
April 2, 2008 10:50 a.m.
In reading some of the ALZ literature, it noted that a severe blow to the head at some time is also a likely cause
- A Hein
April 2, 2008 10:12 a.m.
The take-home messages I hear from Dr. Peterson’s statement are: 1. Physical exercise ~ alone ~ may be more effective than medications, intellectual activity, supplements, and diet ~ alone ~ in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. But, while physical exercise may be “best,” these other activities also have their importance. 2. Physical exercise does not guarantee that a person will avoid Alzheimer's disease, it simply reduces the risk. It’s like not smoking: not smoking “reduces the risk” of getting lung cancer, but some non-smokers will still get lung cancer. The same is true with exercise and Alzheimer’s. 3. One other, but related, factor may be as important as physical exercise in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease, namely cardiovascular health: maintaining healthy levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and body weight.
- Lucie Arbuthnot, Ph.D.
April 1, 2008 6:27 p.m.
All the exercise in the world didn't prevent my husband from getting AZ! We both walked 4 miles a day for so many years until 2 years ago, when something went wrong... only now do I know what it was... we also ate healthy and were in great shape...plus active in many orgnizations.... so what does anything prove.. it is just a devastating disease that we hope we can prevent, but I really wonder...... by the way he is the first in his family that we are aware of to get this... my family is not so fortunate... as my grandfather and father died of AZ. As of now we are all okay... what the outlook is .... only God knows.
- Mary
March 27, 2008 1:13 p.m.
My father has Alzheimer's and I fear I will also. I have never exercised and although I am creative and intelligent I am not mentally strong. I would like to be part of a study relating to the prevention of...
- Adana
March 26, 2008 12:05 p.m.
Does anyone know the references for these studies? v interesting
- Fil
15 comments posted