Do Seals Get Alzheimer’s Disease?
Old seals, sea lions, and walruses appear to show telltale characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains
The gray tide
With the demographic group of ‘elderly’ steadily growing in many parts of the world, dementia is set to become an even larger healthcare burden.
Over half of dementia cases are due to Alzheimer’s disease. This progressive brain condition is associated with cognitive, memory, and behavioral problems.
Several genes seem to be involved in determining your risk for developing the disease. Perhaps the most well-known one is the gene APOE. One version of this gene, APOEε4, is associated with a significantly increased risk for Alzheimer’s.
But genes are not (always) destiny.
Various lifestyle factors influence the risk for developing Alzheimer’s regardless of genetic predisposition. Activity — both mental and physical — reduces your risk. Physical exercise is good for your brain. Mental exercise is too. Reading, writing, playing games, learning a new language, making music… All these activities may protect you against Alzheimer’s.
Diet matters as well. People who eat a Japanese or Mediterranean-styled diet, seem to have a lower risk…
