Alzheimer‘s disease may be associated with modern lifestyles, A new study suggests.
The most prevalent form of memory loss, known as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), was initially identified by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in a woman named Auguste Deter at a hospital in Frankfurt in 1901.
This memory-related issue impacts approximately one person out of every 14 who are over 65 years old. For those aged 80 and above, it affects one in every six individuals, and for those aged 85 and older, it’s one in every three people. These statistics highlight the substantial impact of Alzheimer’s as a significant health concern, particularly among the elderly.
Alzheimer’s disease, a condition causing memory loss, appears not to have been a prominent issue in historical records. Even in the Bible, where various health problems are discussed, there is no mention of Alzheimer’s. Our ancestors encountered problems like weakened vision or physical challenges as they aged, but dementia was not documented.
A recent study from the University of Southern California suggests that the widespread memory loss seen today might be connected to modern lifestyles and environments. This is intriguing because ancient medical writings, dating back 2,500 years, rarely delved into severe memory problems. This implies that the way we live today could be linked to the increasing prevalence of dementia.
An examination of ancient Greek and Roman medical texts indicates that severe memory loss, as commonly observed today, was notably uncommon 2,000 to 2,500 years ago during the time of Aristotle, Galen, and Pliny the Elder.
The study, titled “Dementia in the Ancient Greco-Roman World Was Minimally Mentioned” and published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, supports the idea that Alzheimer’s disease and similar memory conditions are predominantly linked to modern environments and lifestyles. Sedentary behavior and exposure to air pollution are suggested as significant contributors to these diseases.
Gerontologist Prof. Caleb Finch noted that mild cognitive impairment was seldom mentioned in ancient Greek writings. As the researchers examined Roman texts, they discovered around four statements suggesting rare cases of advanced dementia. However, confirming if it was specifically Alzheimer’s is challenging. This finding indicates a progression from minimal mentions in ancient Greek writings to a slightly increased acknowledgment of memory-related issues in Roman texts.
Historical mentions memory loss.
The ancient Greeks understood that getting older might bring some memory issues, like what we now call mild cognitive impairment. However, they didn’t discuss severe memory loss, speaking problems, or reasoning difficulties, which we associate with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
Prof. Caleb Finch and co-author Stanley Burstein examined old medical writings, including those by Hippocrates. Despite covering various health problems in older people, these texts didn’t mention memory loss.
Moving ahead to ancient Rome, a few references to memory problems surfaced. Galen noted that some people faced learning difficulties around age 80, and Pliny the Elder mentioned a senator who forgot his own name. Cicero thought that being somewhat silly was common in irresponsible old men, but not all elders.
Back then, the focus was more on physical problems that come with aging. Finch suggests that as Roman cities became more crowded, pollution increased, possibly contributing to memory decline. Additionally, using lead-containing items like cooking vessels and water pipes might have exposed people to a harmful neurotoxin, with some even suggesting lead poisoning played a role in the fall of the Roman Empire.
Given limited information about the number of older people in ancient times, Finch looked at today’s Tsimane Amerindians in the Bolivian Amazon as a sort of model. Similar to the ancient Greeks and Romans, the Tsimane lead very active lives and have very low rates of dementia. Finch believes this underscores the significant role of the environment in dementia risk, and studying the Tsimane helps us better understand these age-related issues.