source : Johns Hopkins University
The debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s are something that no one should go through. At every symptom, a person loses hope in themselves and dwells in a feeling of despair at thought of no remedy for these effects, but in a recent study published in the journal of Alzheimer’s research and therapy, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for these patients. Researchers tested a theory on whether or not lifestyle plays an effect on these symptoms by gathering 51 participants and monitoring them for 4 years and assigned one group with intervention groups and multimodal lifestyle intervention for 20 weeks. While the other group was subject to their normal lifestyle. Patients with moderate or severe dementia, physical disabilities, and possibilities for other neurological diseases were excluded. The patients in the first group were given customized diets that aimed to be significantly healthier than the average meal and were given instruction to do 30 minutes of walking per day. They were also taught stress management and group support. Though the study has limitations, many being related to the sample size of the group and its diversity, the results have been overwhelmingly positive. Many of the patients reported that they felt better and had improved memory and increased activity. And maintained or even improved beyond their previous self. The research also compared bio markers from before the trial to after the trial to spot and difference and noticed several changes in the ratios of biomarkers that could have led to this improved cognitive performance. The use of biomarkers in this study has also led to the investigation of whether AI could be used to determine a prognosis years before the symptoms of such neurological diseases come into light. In contrast, the group that received no help and maintained their normal lifestyle reported the effects of Alzheimer’s to be worse than before and continuously degenerative. They reported worse memory and worse motor control than group 1 participants. Their bio markers also indicated this change when checking for biological reasons for this worsening progress. Their ratios were completely different from that of group 1 and showed future problems that would result in a complete loss of memory and even motor function. Though this study has limitations and needs to be further investigated, it holds promising results that could be used in the future to help patients with such diseases to have a better life and not suffer the debilitating effects of these neurological diseases. The use of AI in this field could also help determine a future diagnosis or even help make custom lifestyle plans to limit the effects of such diseases. The hope for a treatment has led to rigorous studies all proving a hopeful outcome for future patients and even a possibility that these neurological diseases can be eradicated.
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