Mind & Mood Archive

Science backs the mood-boosting benefits of being of service to others.

The upcoming holidays may inspire you to volunteer your time and talent to a deserving cause or person. And it's a gift that will come right back to you. "We grow up learning that it's better to give than to receive, and the evidence shows that it's actually healthy for us," says Dr. Michael Craig Miller, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

You can add low vitamin D levels to the list of risk factors associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A study published online in Neurology on Aug. 6, 2014, found that in people ages 65 and older, low levels of vitamin D in the blood were associated with a 53% increased risk for developing dementia, and about a 70% increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), compared with normal blood levels of vitamin D. Blood levels of vitamin D that were extremely low were associated with even higher risks: 125% for developing dementia, and 120% for developing AD. The study didn't show that low and extremely low vitamin D levels cause dementia or Alzheimer's, and it didn't show that taking vitamin D pills or increasing the amount of vitamin D in the diet would prevent dementia and Alzheimer's. But could it help? "I would be very surprised if vitamin D supplementation alone would offer protection against dementia. AD is a process 15 to 20-plus years in the making, and most if not all of the mechanisms are probably in place five or six years before a dementia diagnosis," says neurologist Dr. Scott McGinnis, a Harvard Medical School instructor. Meantime, get your Recommended Dietary Allowance of vitamin D, which you need for strong bones, immune function, and cell growth.

Q. My doctor just diagnosed me with mild cognitive impairment, which has been quite upsetting. She told me that there isn't any medication to take that will keep this from getting worse. But I know of someone with this same problem who is taking a pill for it. Is my doctor right?

A. I can see how this could be distressing to you. However, your doctor is right. There is no evidence that for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) taking any sort of pill—prescription or otherwise—prevents their memory problems from getting worse.

There is evidence that statins both lower dementia risk and impair memory. What should you do?

A few years ago, research began to suggest that people who took statins to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease also had a lower risk of developing dementia. At the same time, however, some people who were taking statins were reporting memory loss, forgetfulness, and unfocused thinking. In 2012, the FDA expanded its advisory on statin risk to include cognitive impairment.

Top action steps to take when the doctor says it's mild cognitive impairment.

Irritability, sadness, or apathy may signal another condition.

Everyone has a bad day now and then. But if you or someone you care about seems sadder, more worried, or more easily agitated these days, it could be a sign of a more serious condition. "Mood-related symptoms can come and go in response to everyday stresses. If they occur for long periods, cause significant distress, or interfere with your daily functioning, it's an indication to seek help," says Dr. Nancy Donovan, an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Here's another reason to keep straining your brain as you age: a study published June 23, 2014, in JAMA Neurology has once again confirmed the "use it or lose it" theory, which holds that staying mentally active by reading books, participating in social activities, and doing computer activities at least three times per week keeps the aging brain sharp. "If you use your brain, it will respond. Anything you try to figure out—whether it's what the stock market is doing, if it's going to rain tomorrow, or what to plant in your garden—will sharpen your ability to remember facts and reason and make decisions. Just keep intellectually active," says Dr. David Caplan, a Harvard Medical School professor of neurology. The study also split apart the effect of education and occupation earlier in life from mental activity later in life. The more mental challenge a person had from earlier education and work, the less "bump" he or she got from intellectual activity later. But that same lifetime intellectual enrichment from higher education and more complex jobs was associated with a delay of almost nine years in the onset of cognitive problems among people who carried the APOE4 gene, a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

Spend less time each day wondering and searching by incorporating these simple techniques into your routine.

Q. I've read a lot lately about blood tests for predicting your risk for Alzheimer's disease. Do they work?

A. Researchers are working hard to create an "early detection" blood test for Alzheimer's disease. But right now, none can accurately predict an individual's risk for the illness.

Men who live the most intellectually enriched lives may experience decline in mental skills significantly later than those who led less mentally enriching lives, according to a long-term aging study in JAMA Neurology. But even those who commit to a mentally active life later in the game may still benefit.