Red Wine and A Green Thumb Guard Against Dementia
As the Australian population continues to age over the next 20-30 years, and we ponder about coping with the variety of public health issues that it will bring, local researchers have found that a glass of wine or a quiet, cleansing ale after a day in the garden could be just the thing to keep dementia at bay.
Research published in the current issue of the Medical Journal of Australia, observed 2805 men and women from Dubbo aged over 60, between 1988 and 2004, to determine lifestyle risk factors for developing dementia.
Over the course of the study 9.3 per cent of men and 10.8 per cent of women developed dementia. The greatest single cause of dementia was Alzheimer's Disease.
It is well known that the risk of dementia increases with age but people who had poorer overall health, were prone to depression, or had heart and lung problems were also more likely to develop dementia.
On the bright side the study found that maintaining an active lifestyle and enjoying an alcoholic beverage actually reduced the risks of dementia.
The authors say that while excess alcohol intake is to be avoided, it appears safe and reasonable to recommend that people continue a moderate alcohol intake, and that everyone should maintain physical activity.
"Daily gardening was especially useful in keeping people active, and reducing the risk of dementia," they said.
Study participants who consumed alcohol had a 34 per cent lower risk of developing dementia than teetotallers, while those undertaking daily gardening had a 36 per cent lower risk than those who didn't have a green thumb.
Daily walking also predicted a 38 per cent lower risk of dementia in men, but there did not appear to be a significant reduction in women.
"Physical activity has regularly been found to be protective against the onset of dementia," they said.
"While the protective effect of daily gardening is very strong, it may also be appropriate to consider daily gardening as a leisure or mental activity for a senior citizen.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
CONTACT Judith TOKLEY, AMA Public Affairs, 0408 824 306 / 02 6270 5471