The 4 Cardinal Points of Behavior Domenico Pratico', MD, FCPP
- Dr. Domenico Pratico
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
The secret is out: healthy behaviors have a powerful and profound impact on brain health! The US POINTER study, a large-scale clinical trial showed that healthy lifestyle behaviors targeting multiple risk factors can effectively protect cognitive function.
We believe that these findings can be easily summarized into a new concept:
THE 4 CARDINAL POINTS OF BEHAVIOR
Everybody knowns that the 4 Cardinal Points of a Compass (North, South, East, and West) are fundamental for good geographic orientation and navigation.
With this idea in mind, we at PRATICO LAB are proud to introduce the 4 Cardinal Points of Behavior which provide a standardized framework for everyone who wants to achieve heathy aging and preserve brain health.
NORTH
NUTRITION and healthy diet (vegetables, fruits, olive oil, grains)
Having elevated levels of the low-density lipoprotein (or “bad”) cholesterol increases the risk for cognitive decline and dementia. We are what we eat. Refrain from consuming red meats, full-fat dairy and sugary drinks and favor instead of legumes, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables which can help manage cholesterol levels. If this is not enough, your doctor could suggest a medical therapy like statins to bring down “bad” cholesterol.
EAST
EXERCISE daily (walk, bike, jog, etc.)
We all know that daily physical activity (i.e., walking at least 4000 steps) has enormous benefits for our cardiovascular health both in the short and the long term and most importantly at any age. Science tells us that the cardiovascular benefits of regular walking include among others: lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure. Recent studies have shown evidence that this very regular regime of daily physical activity can have a positive effect on our brain health as well. There is no real need to commit to structured exercise routines, such as hitting the gym, to stay fit and healthy. Today we know that there is a simple yet powerful solution that can still provide similar and significant health benefits: daily walking.
SOUTH
SOCIALIZATION and cognitive activities (book club, gardening club, etc.)
Maintaining an active social life keeps at bay the negative health effects of isolation such as depression. Studies showed that social isolation is associated with abnormal brain structure together with abnormal brain activity in several regions, including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Poor social connections and feelings of isolation lead to a 50% increased risk of developing dementia in older adults. Interestingly, social isolation is recognized as one of the modifiable risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
WEST
WELLNESS monitoring (prevention and cure)
While genetic factors can play a role in some cases, most Alzheimer's cases are sporadic, meaning they're not caused by a specific gene mutation. Instead, they result from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors.
While we can't do anything about our genetic risk factors, there is a growing list of modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease that we can control. These include midlife type 2 diabetes, obesity, midlife hypertension, and smoking.
Clinical evidence suggests that up to 30-35% of late-onset Alzheimer's cases are related to one or more of these risk factors when an individual is 45-55 years old. By making simple lifestyle changes like correcting high glucose levels, losing weight, controlling blood pressure, quitting smoking, we could dramatically reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's later in life.
In conclusion, as I always say, please remember that it is never too early and never too late to follow the 4 Cardinal Points of Behavior and achieve heathy aging, preserve brain health, and live longer!
Happy journey with the 4 Cardinal Points of Behavior!
If you are interested in reading more of my blogs:
Domenico Praticò, MD, holds the Scott Richards North Star Charitable Foundation Chair for Alzheimer’s Research and serves as a Professor and Founding Director of the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple, as well as a Professor of Neural Sciences at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
For more information on the research conducted by Dr. Domenico Pratico, please visit this link.
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Stay updated with the work happening at Dr. Domenico Pratico's lab by visiting the Pratico Lab website.