Summary:
Severe memory loss, resembling today’s dementia epidemic, was exceptionally rare in ancient Greece and Rome, suggesting a substantial influence of modern lifestyles on such conditions.
Key Findings:
- Ancient Greek and Roman texts show minimal mentions of cognitive impairments, indicating diseases like Alzheimer’s were uncommon 2,000 years ago.
- A comparative analysis with the Tsimane people, leading a preindustrial lifestyle with low dementia rates, highlights the impact of lifestyle on cognitive health.
- Environmental factors, particularly air pollution and sedentary behavior, emerge as significant contributors to the contemporary rise in dementia cases.
This study’s historical and comparative approach provides insights into the potential influence of physical activity levels and environmental conditions on the prevalence of modern-age dementias.