Changing diapers prevents Alzheimer's

. . . Or, what can happen when popular science writers get hold of almost any story about non-human biology.  It seems that bees stay vigorous as long as they're tending larvae in the hive, but slide into decrepitude quickly after assuming their mature function of foraging.  When researchers removed the young larvae caretakers, some of the older bees were forced to give up foraging and tend the larvae themselves.  A protective protein in the brain slowed the decrepitude that afflicted their foraging colleagues.  The irrepressible authors cannot restrain themselves from noting:
They found Prx6, a protein also found in humans that can help protect against dementia – including diseases such as Alzheimer’s – and they discovered a second and documented “chaperone” protein that protects other proteins from being damaged when brain or other tissues are exposed to cell-level stress. 
In general, researchers are interested in creating a drug that could help people maintain brain function, yet they may be facing up to 30 years of basic research and trials. 
“Maybe social interventions – changing how you deal with your surroundings – is something we can do today to help our brains stay younger,” said Amdam.  “Since the proteins being researched in people are the same proteins bees have, these proteins may be able to spontaneously respond to specific social experiences.”

11 comments:

Grim said...

Well, then, let's not hear any more of this complaint about younger Americans moving back home. Move back home! Have some kids! Grandpa needs something to keep his brain healthy.

bthun said...

Hey! Can't a guy go quietly insane around here?!

Or as this older gentleman points out, Don't leave us with the babies!"

Texan99 said...

Not to worry. Grandma and Grandpa can change each other's diapers. Or, apparently, adopt any PC behavior that the credulous science writers believe qualifies as "socially challenging" to the brain.

Just don't read any right-wing blogsites. That would be bad.

bthun said...

"Grandma and Grandpa can change each other's diapers."

Too kinky for this old boy.

Check me off on the socially challenging item. WB has challenged me, from day one, not tell people behaving badly what I think of them. I'm getting close enough for government funded studies work.

Eric Blair said...

There's something to the article.

My mother cared for my stepfather (who developed senile dementia) until he died; Within a year of his death she went from caring for him and herself (with some help) to being committed to a 24/7 care facility.

She just sort of folded up and went away. A very queer thing it was.

bthun said...

"Within a year of his death she went from caring for him and herself (with some help) to being committed to a 24/7 care facility.

She just sort of folded up and went away. A very queer thing it was."


Certainly not scientific nor a study, but my observations in this area have led me to believe the decline usually results from a loss of purpose along with the attending focus and drive necessary to carry out the purpose...

Texan99 said...

I think it's pretty well understood that we age better when we're active. Where this article went off the silly cliff was suggesting, on the basis of bee studies, that caring for infants staves off Alzheimer's better than chasing down food.

Grim said...

But Eric's got a point, too. My mother in law died in much the same way. On the day her husband died, she was an impressive woman. Through the period of when she was attending to the details of the funeral, she was strong and clear. She oversaw the funeral preparations and presided over the after-funeral dinner with aplomb. Then we came home from the funeral and she told us that we'd be reading her obituary soon.

Six months later she died, having completely collapsed mentally and physically. The mental collapse was especially pronounced. I came home for the funeral from Baghdad, just in time for Christmas. I told my wife that it was her mother's last gift to her, bringing us together for Christmas that year.

bthun said...

"Where this article went off the silly cliff was suggesting, on the basis of bee studies, that caring for infants staves off Alzheimer's better than chasing down food."

Yup, and...

"But Eric's got a point, too."

That point, IMO, may be the point.

Texan99 said...

Common sense and experience tell us that elderly people do better when they are purposefully active and engaged with others. Bee studies don't help us much in deciding what purposeful, engaged activities are best at staving off senility. We don't have bee brains that are programmed to stay youthful forever as long as we're tending to babies, but to senesce dramatically as soon as we're put to the task of hunting and gathering.

bthun said...

"Common sense and experience tell us"

Is common sense, still...

common?

Sometimes I wonder.

"to senesce dramatically as soon as we're put to the task of hunting and gathering."

If that were true, a bunch of folks out here in flyover land would age rapidly, beginning at about 6-10 years.

Then again, I suppose I may not have been socially induced in amongst the proper hive.