Have you ever heard the term Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?

More and more, I see this term used for the general public: to describe newsworthy findings of studies about memory and aging, in educational materials from leading organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, and from neurologists caring for people experiencing memory loss.

MCI refers to the stage between the cognitive decline associated with normal aging and the more serious changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, marked by progressive loss of memory and day to day functional abilities.

Researchers and scientist are particularly interested in studying people with MCI as they may be seeing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at its earliest stage. People with MCI are an important part of research studies seeking information about biomarkers, risk factors, and prevention of AD.

Senior Living Residences, www.seniorlivingresidences, is currently implementing a number of cognitive health initiatives to help people living with the memory changes associated with MCI and the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Visit this blog again for information on the diagnosis, treatment, and services available for people with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Having my own family history of Alzheimer’s disease, I was particularly interested in some recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA). Last month, JAMA reported findings from a compelling study describing a direct connection between diet and cognitive health. Researchers found that individuals who follow a “Mediterranean-type diet” have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In the study, individuals who adhered to a Mediterranean diet had a 32-40 percent decreased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. In the same study, adherence to the diet combined with physical activity resulted in a 61-67 percent risk reduction for developing the disease.

Focusing on innovation, Senior Living Residences, www.seniorlivingresidences.com, has been implementing a cognitively protective diet and nutrition program for the past two years. The Memory Preservation Nutrition® program, developed by and implemented in conjunction with Nancy Emerson Lombardo, PhD, is a unique evidence-based program incorporating foods and spices, specifically selected for their nutrient-rich properties and linked in research to healthy cognition, into everyday diet to improve overall brain health. The program seeks to improve brain function, decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease for an individual who has already been diagnosed.

The main foods that are indicated through the program include fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables, specific spices, whole grains, and foods containing omega-three fatty acids. All of the healthy foods in the right combinations provide the body with important disease-fighting antioxidants, nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties and also help to regulate blood sugar. These changes are all important for brain health, yours and mine.

To read more about the Memory Preservation Nutrition® program, visit http://www.seniorlivingresidences.com/senior-living-residences-launches-innovative-nutrition-program.