don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Do you see youself as a self-disciplined, organized achiever? If not, change your outlook, unless the idea of forgetting your name, phone number and just about everything else including your gender has some kind of weird appeal. A new study which, like all new studies, should be taken with tons rather than a single grain of salt, suggests that such an outlook might lower your risk for developing Alzheimer's disease.

How can this be? The leaders of the study explain that a "purposeful personality may somehow protect the brain, perhaps by increasing neural connections that can act as a reserve against mental decline." They came up with this idea through a combination of observations and tests of older folks over time and a study of their brain tissues, after they died.

Specifically, researchers in Chicago gathered personality data on lots of older folks. After their demise, the scientists conducted autopsies -- and found that those who seemed to be highly "dutiful" (self-disciplined) had brain lesions typical of those found in brains of Alzeimer sufferers. Yet, these folks did NOT have dementia symptoms during any part of their lives, including the final years.

The message: How we think makes a difference. Can we control how we think? Who knows? That will take more studies. In the meantime, you can be sure I will be carrying on as if I am one self-disciplined, organized achiever who loves to do puzzles, even if I am nothing of the kind. I prefer to keep my wits, and this seems like a good way to do it according to the studies, besides lots of exercise and pure thoughts.

Another way to benefit from this study, assuming it turns out to have validity (and such a judgment should always be suspended pending further investigations), is to NOT act in ways associated with Alzheimer vulnerabilities. For example, avoid distress and worry. Not good.

The study noted (published in the Archives of General Psychiatry in late September) are based upon personality tests and medical exams of 997 older Catholic priests, nuns and brothers. These are not exactly typical folks, given their life-long commitment to a set of beliefs not associated with the normal stresses of folks who work for a living and have lesser expectations of eternal bliss in exchange for earthy exertions at saving souls. Like Barry Bonds home run record, this study should bear a serious asterisk in the Alzheimer record books.

Still, other things being the same (which they never are), you might want to start acting like and thinking of yourself as a self-disciplined, organized achiever. No harm in bending the odds your way. If you want to go a little further, consider becoming a Catholic priest, nun or brother. This might further advance your prospects of remembering who you are very late in life, even if your brain is riddled with lesions.

Be well and always look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of adaptations and challenges. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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