A Book Review: Aging With Grace - Leading Longer, Healthier, and More Meaningful Lives

A Book Review: Aging With Grace - What the Nun Study Teaches Us About Leading Longer, Healthier, and More Meaningful Lives David Snowdon, PhD Bantom Books, 2001

Like all of us, I am aging, but it puzzled me when I received this book as a gift. It did not take long to realize that this would be a fascinating read considering my ongoing study of brain development. David Snowdon, PhD the author and researcher - calls himself "a medical detective, an epidemiologist looking for clues to the mysteries of aging." His chosen population, nuns, provided an ideal environment for the study. He shares many precious stories of his encounter with nuns that I will not try to recount. I recommend the book for a very interesting read. However, I will mention key points learned from this long-term study.

Each participant underwent an annual test that included tasks that relate to everyday life and are important for maintaining independence.

• State date and identify location.
• Spell Words Backwards
• Naming common objects
• Verbal Fluency
• Visual Spatial - drawing shapes.
• Three Memory tests
• Physical Tests - put on sweater, cut a clay hot dog, read instructions on a pill bottle / take out the correct dosage.
• Hand coordination - timed as they opened 3 small doors with different latches.
• Grip Strength - grasped a dynomometer.
• Walking 6 feet and, if possible 50 feet - timed.
• Up and Go - stand up and walk around a sign - timed.
• Lower body strength - putting on and tying a pair of shoes

In addition to the Mental and Physical tests, nursing staff members were asked to give supplemental information on the participants' function. Many of the participants also signed permissions allowing researches to autopsy and study their brains upon their death.

Researchers wanted to discover if everyone with plaques and tangles developed symptoms of Alzheimer's; what caused plaques and tangles; was it genes or environment; and was aging the primary factor or did other factors contribute to the onset of Alzheimer's. Snowdon gives a history of our understanding of what Alzheimer's is and does to people. Then he continues by revealing new information suggested by this study:

• Before this study, it was believed that a patient had to be at Stage III or IV on the Braak scale to show symptoms of Alzheimer's. Baffling results lead researchers to speculate that depression can contribute to an earlier onset of symptoms at Stage II.


• This study confirms other studies that Alzheimer's is not a yes/no disease. It is a process - one that evolves over decades and interacts with many other factors. With one of these genes from one parent the risk factor is 3 times higher. With genes from both parents the risk factor is 8 times higher.


• What can we do to help our children avoid Alzheimer's disease? One researcher said, "Read to them, It's that simple. It the most important thing a parent can do with their children" because it builds vocabulary and reading comprehension. (p. 117)


• What can we do to help a loved one who is already showing signs of Alzheimer's? Visit and discuss: current events and childhood memories; read aloud; sing songs together; play cards; puzzles or other activities the individual enjoys - anything that person can do will help. Give them time to respond and do not quiz them.


• While the brain comprises only 2 % of the body's weight, it demands 15-25% of the available oxygen. Whether a compromised heart, a clogged artery or hypertension when oxygen is called away from the brain, the result is usually a stroke. Depending on the location there may be partial paralysis, impaired vision, loss of speech or vascular dementia.


• They learned that a "stroke-free brain" could compensate and function better than the tangles and plaques would suggest.

Reviewer's Cautions:

• Snowden does not believe that aluminum and mercury toxicity are problems. However, I would recommend looking at other sources for this issue. At least with mercury there are no known "safe" levels of ingestion. Mercury is commonly recognized as a neurotoxin in medical literature and I believe the same can be said of aluminum.


• Researcher / neurologist suggested higher doses of vitamin E, vitamin C and folic acid. In addition, he recommends a trial of a prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, because they may help to reduce the brain-damaging effects of the inflammatory process in Alzheimer's disease. Again, I would recommend looking for nutritional alternatives to anti-inflammatory drugs.

Snowden and his team conducted a comprehensive study that positively adds to the body of research regarding aging in general and Alzheimer's in particular.