COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — NBC4 Evening Anchor Colleen Marshall sat down for a brain cognition test, the same kind that will become a component in a study for a new Alzheimer’s drug trial.
Marshall did not qualify for the drug trial herself, but is part of a very high-risk group. Her mother died of Alzheimer’s as did her grandmother and an aunt on her father’s side. But the evening anchor does not have the genetic markers or evidence of protein building up on her brain.
Still, researchers at Ohio State University asked Marshall to be a part of a control group for a four-year companion study. Some parts of the included cognition test are simple, but others are more challenging, as it captures a record of the health of the brain.
The test will be repeated each June for four years, and will also be compared to the results of the participants in the drug trial. But anyone can take control of their brain health with everyday actions that lower the risk of cognitive decline, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
They include:
- Challenge your mind – Put your brain to work doing something new, like a game or something artistic.
- Continue to learn – This could be taking a class at a local library or online.
- Get moving – Engage in regular exercise that raises heart rate and increases blood flow
- Protect your head – Wear a helmet for things like biking, and wear a seatbelt in the car. Also try to prevent falls for older adults.
- Be smoke-free – Smoking can raise the risk of cognitive decline.
- Control blood pressure – This can be with medication or health eating and lifestyle.
- Manage diabetes
- Eat right – This can also reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Sleep well – Staying off screens before bedtime can also help with higher-quality rest.
As of Tuesday, the OSU researchers have all of the study subjects they need, and NBC4 will follow the results.