Alzheimer's Hot Line

alzheimer\’s disease is a condition affecting up to 4.5 million Americans. While there is no known cure, studies have been conducted that indicate there may be ways of preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The disease is characterized by symptoms such as forgetfulness, memory loss, and reduced ability to concentrate, and in later stages the sufferer may display anxiety and delusions, loss of speech and inability to sit up or walk. It is a slow disease with symptoms manifesting and worsening over the period of many years.

The now famous, groundbreaking nun study went a long way toward identifying characteristics that would indicate the likelihood of Alzheimer’s onset later in life. 100 nuns have been studied over a period of fifteen years, beginning in 1991. Over the course of those years, their genes have been tested and analyzed, physical balance and strength charted, and cognitive tests run to determine how many words the women could remember several minutes after reading them, how many animals they could name in a minute, and if they could correctly count coins. The research shows that people who scored lower on cognitive ability tests when young were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s later in life. Early cognitive ability was measured based on writings done by the nuns while in their early 20’s. Those showing more idea density the number of ideas expressed in the fewest number of words and better linguistic and grammar skills had a much lower incidence of Alzheimer’s later in life. Scientists are of the opinion that good cognitive skills early on creates a sort of neurocognitive reserve which will be drawn on later, effectively preventing alzheimer\’s. Exercising and improving cognitive skills via writing, reading and learning anything that stimulates the brain may go a long way toward active, clearheaded and graceful aging.

There are a number of other things, as well, that you can do to help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s. Many of these prevention techniques involve limbering the mind and working on memory skills long before Alzheimer’s onset is a danger. Just having a mentally stimulating job that involves creative thinking or manipulation of data is shown to have a connection to lower incidence of Alzheimer’s later in life. Doing crossword puzzles and playing card games were found to have a significant positive impact on later mental dexterity. Employ memorization techniques used by actors. Actors don’t merely memorize a series of words. They also combine appropriate movements, and evaluate the intent behind the words to be delivered. This active-experiencing method of memorization was shown to also improve the memory and cognitive skills in older people who were taught the technique. Limbering your mind now may promote a limber mind in your latter years.

Proper diet and exercise promote good health in general and may ward off countless problems including Alzheimer’s onset. The addition of fish oils, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C to the diet have all shown to contribute to a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s. Keeping cholesterol at a healthy level prevents build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain a characteristic in Alzheimer’s. Finally, physical activity has been shown to prevent deposits in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Exercise your mind and body, and make good lifestyle choices, as the only cure for Alzheimer’s as yet, is prevention. While there is believed to be a genetic component which would predispose someone to the risk of Alzheimer’s, awareness, early planning and mental exercise, and smart dietary choices may aid to reduce your likelihood of developing this mysterious and debilitating disease. A healthy mind and a healthy body now will make for a healthy mind and body later.

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The Importance of English Language Today, Advices and Predisposition to Foreign Languages

Today learning English language is very important, not to say really essential. Once children started learning English just since the junior high, today everything is different.

English language teaching classes start from day nursery, where children attending the “courses”, beyond coming all from different countries, can learn English by playing. Through the use of very easy songs, they will mainly learn colors and animals. The precocious teaching of English language pursuits the final goal to make children grow up and get a multicultural education. As we were saying and as everybody can notice, today our country is made up of different cultures, there are a lot of children coming from different countries attending the English primary school, many different cultures, many languages, many customs and traditions. The learning of a foreign language, especially English, through a deep relationship between language and culture, contribute to enrich children’s cognitive background, making them expand their mental and cultural horizons. But in Italy a lot of people still can’t speak English. Our country always ranks in the last places among other European countries regarding citizens’ foreign languages knowledge. But being able to speak correctly two foreign languages is certainly very useful. First of all English, that since many years has been considered the most important language at international level. Now it should be spoken as well as Italian language.

To do so, it is very useful that children learn a foreign language since nursery school, when their mind is still free from a lot of notions and ready to store up new information. Since the age of two and half years, (but some researchers say also before this age), a child is able to learn very well even more than one foreign language and as adult he will speak all of them in the same way, as they all were their mother tongue. This is the main advantage to make learn a foreign language (and we are talking especially about English) since child. It is certain that children will surely make less effort than an adult to learn English language (or another foreign language, maybe even more than one). An useful advice is to speak English also at home and Italian outside home. This way a child can learn both languages at the same level. Since today it seems that bilingualism also has a positive effect on our brain, as this Padova International School can tell. A research from the York University of Toronto in Canada, has even shown that people, who daily speak fluently two foreign languages, have a strong chance to delay of several years the arise of some kind of dementia such as the Alzheimer’s disease. But also if you are not bilingual yet, you can start now. You can sign up for a specific English course and attend weekly classes in the evening.

These all are courses with fee that also issue a certificate of attendance. At the end of the course, you will have to take an exam both oral and written hold by the Padova English school to get this certificate. But if you want to self taught, you can buy booklet periodically sold at the newsstand, regarding the foreign language with included an inset and a CD ROM. This is a new and valid way, not to underestimate, and if taken seriously, will surely give the expected results in a little time. After a bit of practice you will be the master of bilingualism.

By Michele De Capitani with support from scuola inglese bambini for any information, please visit scuole materne inglese or for more info visit scuola inglese british .

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