Business of Life

Spirituality May Slow Alzheimer's

Research suggesting that a rewarding spiritual life may help slow the devastation of Alzheimer's disease was presented to the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

This is the first study to actually attempt to look into a relationship between spirituality and religiosity and Alzheimer's disease," Kaufman said. "We did not specifically look into the mechanisms, and we certainly need to replicate these results and do a larger study."

Vincent Corso, a former priest who is now manager of spiritual care and bereavement services for Visiting Nurse Service of New York Hospice Care in New York City, said he was not surprised by the findings, however preliminary.

People who are connected with a spiritual presence in their life, whether it takes the shape of a family member, close friend, support network, meditation or yoga, have a sense of peace and probably, by extrapolation, longevity," he said. "What's important to people is how much they're able to connect with the people around them. If that creates a feeling of well-being, then that aids in the healing process.

Meanwhile, experts had hoped that Vitamin E or Aricept might slow the progression of Alzheimer's but neither showed any benefit according to a trial, the results of which are also being presented to the American Academy of Neurology