Summary: In ancient Greece and Rome, severe memory loss like today’s dementia epidemic was extremely rare. The study found minimal mentions of cognitive impairments in these ancient civilizations, contrasting sharply with current dementia rates. Comparing with the Tsimane Amerindians, who have a preindustrial lifestyle and low dementia rates, supports the theory that physical activity levels and environmental factors significantly influence dementia prevalence. This analysis highlights the impact of sedentary behavior and pollution on cognitive health, providing insights into preventing modern-age dementias.Key Facts:The study contrasts ancient dementia prevalence with that of the Tsimane people.Environmental factors, such as air pollution and sedentary behavior, are highlighted as significant contributors to the modern increase in dementia cases.Source: USCAge-related dementia was very rare in ancient Greece and Rome, according to a new analysis of classical Greek and Roman medical texts. The research suggests that modern environments and lifestyles, with sedentary behavior and exposure to air pollution, contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The USC-led research published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease underscores the idea that these diseases are a product of modern times. 
University Professor Caleb Finch at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology said that the ancient Greeks had very few mentions of mild cognitive impairment. The Romans, however, had at least four statements suggesting rare cases of advanced dementia, but it is unclear if it was Alzheimer’s. Historical evidence showed that aging commonly brought memory issues, but nothing approaching a major loss of memory, speech and reasoning caused by Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Finch and co-author Stanley Burstein, a historian at California State University, Los Angeles, studied ancient medical writing by Hippocrates and his followers. The texts cataloged ailments of the elderly such as deafness, dizziness and digestive disorders, but made no mention of memory loss. A few mentions of cognitive decline arose later in ancient Rome. Finch suggested that as Roman cities grew denser, pollution increased, leading to cognitive decline. It was also noted that Roman aristocrats used lead-containing materials, leading to unknowing poisoning themselves with neurotoxins. The Tsimane Amerindians of the Bolivian Amazon, who have a preindustrial lifestyle and are physically active, have extremely low rates of dementia. This suggests that the environment is a huge determinant of dementia risk. The study was supported by funds from the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund and the National Institutes of Health (P01 AG055367 and R01 AG05442). About this Alzheimer’s disease and neurology research newsAuthor: Leigh Hopper
Source: USC
Contact: Leigh Hopper – USC
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience NewsOriginal Research: Closed access.
“Dementia in the Ancient Greco-Roman World Was Minimally Mentioned” by Caleb Finch et al. Journal of Alzheimer’s DiseaseAbstractDementia in the Ancient Greco-Roman World Was Minimally MentionedBackground: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) is a modern disease, with minimal mention of advanced cognitive decline by ancient Greeks and Romans, who were mainly concerned with the physical frailties of older ages.Objective: Because standard medical histories of elderly health lacked mention of cognitive decline, texts by Greek and Roman authors that mentioned memory loss and dementia were examined.Methods: Primary texts of Greco-Roman authors, 8th century BCE into the 3rd century CE, that mentioned cognitive decline were identified and critically evaluated. Secondary sources were excluded.Results: No ancient account of cognitive loss is equivalent to modern clinical data. The term dementia was occasionally used in antiquity, but not invariably linked to old age. While some memory loss was acknowledged, only four accounts of severe cognitive loss that might represent ADRD were found. The possible emergence of advanced ADRD in the Roman era may be associated with environmental factors of air pollution and increased exposure to lead. Further historical analysis may formulate critical hypotheses about the modernity of high ADRD prevalence.
