A special report on Alzheimer's disease, a supplement to the October i008 issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, describes focus areas in prevention research. They include:

• Physical activity and healthy living -- Some of the most recent research indicates that taking steps to improve cardiovascular health -- such as losing weight, and controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol -- may help prevent Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

• Mental fitness -- Some studies have suggested that remaining mentally active, especially as a person ages, reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

• Diet -- Like physical activity, diet influences conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may be risk factors for Alzheimer's. A recent study found that consumption of fruit and vegetable juices may delay Alzheimer's. Other research has suggested this protection may be related to consuming antioxidants (polyphenols) found in fruits and vegetables.

• Alzheimer's vaccine -- Preliminary trials of an Alzheimer's vaccine were halted several years ago when some participants developed inflammation as a side effect. Those who didn't have inflammation showed some positive benefits. Researchers are working on a second-generation vaccine.

• Cardiovascular therapies -- Some studies of cholesterol-lowering drugs in the statin class have indicated that using these medications regularly in midlife decreases a person's risk of Alzheimer's. However, two recent clinical trials found no preventive benefits from statins.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -- Inflammation has been observed in the brains of some people with Alzheimer's, and researchers have looked at whether NSAIDs could prevent the disease. Several studies have indicated that ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others) and indomethacin (Indocin) may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. Recent trials that included naproxen, celecoxib (Celebrex) and aspirin found no similar benefits.

• Estrogen -- Early studies suggest that estrogen may protect against Alzheimer's, but more recent studies have not confirmed that finding.
  

About Alzheimer's Disease 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, which afflicts 24 million people worldwide. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging and is not something that inevitably happens in later life. It is rarely seen before the age of 65. The likelihood of having Alzheimer's disease increases substantially after the age of 70 and may affect around 50% of persons over the age of 85.