Report Finds Risks of Developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases can be Dramatically...

Report Finds Risks of Developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases can be
Dramatically Reduced

BOSTON, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental factors are key drivers in
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, according to the authors of a new
report, "Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging", released today.
Importantly, the report demonstrates that the risks for Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's can be dramatically reduced.
It offers the most comprehensive review of the currently available
research on the lifetime influences of environmental factors on Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's diseases, two of the most common degenerative diseases of the
brain. These influences include common dietary patterns, toxic chemical
exposures, inadequate exercise, socio-economic stress and other factors. These
influences can begin in the womb and continue throughout life, setting the
stage for the later development of neurodegenerative as well as other chronic
diseases.
In addition, the report describes the substantial emerging evidence that,
collectively, these environmental factors alter biochemical pathways at the
cellular and subcellular levels. These alterations fuel Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases, as well as other chronic illnesses referred to in the
report as the "Western disease cluster" -- diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular
disease and metabolic syndrome. Each of these diseases in turn increases the
risk of Alzheimer's disease. This collection of diseases is being driven by
dramatic alterations over the past 50 to 100 years in the U.S. food supply, an
increasingly sedentary lifestyle, and exposure to toxic chemicals.
The full report, "Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging", is published
jointly by Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Science
and Environmental Health Network and is available online at:
www.agehealthy.org .
The report authors provide recommendations so that individuals, families,
communities, and societies can take action at all levels and move towards
healthy living and healthy aging. This is especially important because the
population over the age of 65, which is highly vulnerable to chronic disease,
is expected to nearly double in the U.S. by 2030 -- from about 38 million to
over 71 million. With that increase will come a dramatic escalation of chronic
diseases unless steps are taken now to reduce the risks. Among these
recommendations are:
-- Increase sustainable, diversified and local alternatives to industrial
farming -- to improve the nutritional value of food, cut down on
harmful content, ensure access to healthy food, and lessen serious
damage to the environment;

-- Regulatory reforms of chemical policy that help prevent hazardous toxic
exposures from air, water, food, and other consumer products; business
policy changes that give preference to purchasing and using products
made of safer chemicals;

-- Health care policy changes that increase the focus on disease
prevention and ensure equitable and accessible health care for all;
and,

-- An energy policy that reduces toxic emissions, promotes conservation
and efficiency, curtails dependence on fossil fuels, and encourages
more physical activity.

In addition to these societal recommendations, the report contains
recommendations for actions for healthy living and healthy aging that
individuals can take to reduce the risks for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and
other diseases of the Western disease cluster. These include specific
recommendations relating to:
-- Eating healthy and nutritious food, and avoiding common hazards in the
typical modern diet;

-- Staying active physically and mentally;

-- Avoiding harmful toxicants and pollutants; and,

-- Being socially engaged with family, friends and community.

On Thursday, October 23, at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT, the co-authors
will conduct a media briefing call to discuss the findings and recommendations
in the "Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging" report. Members of the media
can access the media briefing call by dialing (877) 358-8255 (U.S./Canada) and
using pass code 1619147#.
SOURCE Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility

Sakura Amend, samend@goodmanmedia.com or Colleen White,
cwhite@goodmanmedia.com, both of Goodman Media, +1-212-576-2700