Preventing Alzheimer's: Lisa Genova's TED Talk - Essay Sample

Introduction

The TED talk given by Lisa Genova attempts to describe the essential elements of Alzheimer's disease while trying to provide preventive measures that can be adopted to prevent Alzheimer's in old age. The speaker goes further to identify the epidemiology of the disease and provides the pathophysiology behind this neurologic disease. Among the preventive measures mentioned include getting enough sleep every day since, according to the speaker, sleep deprivation leads to the accumulation of Amelie beta cells, which leads to Alzheimer’s once they have accumulated enough in the brain. Chronic conditions like Hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes have also been identified as potential risk factors of Alzheimer's. People who exercise regularly are also less likely to be symptomatic of the disease as they get older. According to the speaker, apart from physical exercises, scientists have also established that regular mental activities that stimulate the brain go a long way in preventing Alzheimer’s.

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There are a few things that the speaker mentioned that were new and useful to learn. Among them is that Alzheimer’s affects one in every three persons in society and that despite being in existence for many years, the medical field has not discovered a vaccine or treatment regimen that successfully prevents it. Most Neuroscientists believe that Alzheimer’s is caused by the accumulation of a peptide in the brain called Amelie beta cells, which accumulate slowly to form plaques that start forming mostly around the age of 40 years. These peptides can gather in the brain for years before symptoms can manifest in a victim. It has also been newly discovered that lifestyle choices can affect the speed of the accumulation of these peptides in the brain. I have also seen that despite the presence and accumulation of these peptides in the brain, a victim can fail to manifest with symptoms because they were regularly involved in cognitive exercises. Lastly, the discovery that getting enough sleep through a lifetime can be a preventive measure against the disease.

I agree with her opinion on the facts and preventive measures of Alzheimer’s disease provided by the speaker. The speaker states how common the disease is found in society, and it is reasonable to agree with this because most people have a personal experience of Alzheimer’s either with a close friend or with a family member. The speaker also states the importance of sleep in preventing the disease, and her opinions are agreeable because it is a well-known fact that rest is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Without a doubt, sleep deprivation over long periods is most likely to cause irreversible damage to the brain. She also states the importance of diet, and it is easy to support this because diet plays a significant role in the physical and mental well-being of all human beings.

There are different aspects of the speech that can be applied personally to prevent being a victim of the disease. The first aspect will be that as I get older, I will be keener to note information that I might forget and examine if these forgetful episodes are typical or are queer since most early symptoms of Alzheimer’s present with queer forgetful events. I will also try to follow a healthy balanced diet because most scientists have linked the occurrence of the disease with chronic health conditions like Hypertension that are preventable through the adoption of a healthy balanced diet. Another critical aspect that can be adopted is regular mental exercises that are a significant factor in promoting mental health. I will regularly try to learn new information since it is linked with strengthening and creating new neuron connections.

There are numerous studies conducted on the possible preventive measures against Alzheimer’s. Scientists have established that the proper control of Hypertension can go a long way in preventing Alzheimer's. A committee of experts determined that managing high blood pressure in middle-aged people can help prevent or delay the disease (Kehoe, 2018). A multiyear study has also discovered that intense efforts to lower blood pressure levels reduce the risk of MCI, which is a common risk factor of Alzheimer’s (Kehoe, 2018). Cognitive training activities that are designed to boost memory and reasoning prevent the occurrence of the disease. There are encouraging and inconclusive results that have shown that a particular computer-based cognitive training program can help in preventing or slowing down the occurrence of the disease (Kehoe, 2018). Studies from long term observatory experiments where scientists have observed behaviors of people without interfering with them have determined that informal cognitive activities like playing games or reading can lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s (Kehoe, 2018). Scientists believe that some of these activities protect the brain by providing a `reserve, ` that is the brain's ability to work effectively and efficiently when it is damaged or when its functions are disrupted. Another explanation provided is that these activities aid the brain to become adaptable in performing some mental tasks as it compensates for a decline in performing some tasks (Kehoe, 2018).

I believe that scientists should do more research to determine if there is a specific diet that can help prevent Alzheimer's. So far, there has not been enough evidence that can provide conclusive evidence that one particular diet can help prevent cognitive decline. It is well known that Mediterranean diets and dietary approaches against Hypertension are good for mental health. Thus more research should be conducted to determine if these diets can prevent the occurrence of Alzheimer's. Medical experts should also do more research on possible drug regimens that can slow down the progression or delay the onset of the disease.

References

Genova, L. (2017, May 19). What you can do to prevent Alzheimer's. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twG4mr6Jov0

Kehoe, P. G. (2018). The coming of age of the angiotensin hypothesis in Alzheimer’s disease: progress toward disease prevention and treatment. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 62(3), 1443-1466.