4 hours Ago By [email protected] (Christopher Sharp)
A doctor who foresaw his own Alzheimer's diagnosis has revealed that he first suspected he might develop the condition 19 years before it was confirmed. Dr Daniel Gibbs from Portland, Oregon, USA, noticed a loss of smell at 55 and anticipated Alzheimer's could be on the horizon. Now 74, Dr Gibbs is living with the disease nine years post-diagnosis, actively managing his symptoms as he faces a gradual decline.
He's been proactive since his realisation, engaging in regular exercise, tai chi, and other lifestyle adjustments, which he believes have slowed the progression by 30 to 50 percent. READ MORE - New research offers insight into Irish centenarians' secrets to long life READ MORE - Dad, 45, given just two years to live after dismissing symptoms as 'just my age' Chatting with the Mail, he quipped that losing his sense of smell had its upsides: "I don't get disgusted easily, I don't mind picking up dog poop or doing other smelly jobs." His experience aligns with research findings that suggest reinforcing the sense of smell could be beneficial later in life, with Alzheimer's Research UK's Dr Leah Mursaleen hinting at intensive smell training as a potential strategy.
She revealed to the Guardian: "We've already seen some early studies suggesting that 'training' our sense of smell, through repeated exposure to strong-smelling substances, could have benefits in improving cognitive performance in certain tasks," reports Surrey Live . "However, much more research is needed to understand whether things like olfactory training could help prevent or slow down the onset and progression of mild cognitive impairment and dementia." Dr Gibbs also emphasised the importance of physical exercise in later life, adding to the ongoing conversation about its significance.
According to the Daily Express, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have indicated that exercise might be recommended for promoting healthy ageing. Their study of 648 healthy individuals showed that those with the highest levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) performed better on cognitive tests. In the British Journal of Sports Medicine, they noted: "These findings highlight CRF as an important health factor for preserving multidomain cognitive functioning in older adulthood.
" They added that understanding the nuances of this relationship could aid in creating tailored exercise prescriptions that focus on CRF to maintain cognitive health as we age. Another study, featured in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that a higher Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) score is tied to better brain power. The boffins behind the research concluded: "High CRF is associated with better cognitive performance at baseline, and lower dementia risk long-term.
High CRF could mitigate the impact of genetic predisposition on the development of dementia by 35 percent." Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone.
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