A new study by American researchers claims that the disease that destroys memory, speech, and thinking was surprisingly rare during the times of Ancient Greece and Rome.
Dementia is likely a modern ailment, as there are very few mentions of severe memory loss in ancient Greek and Roman medical texts, the researchers stated.
The team, led by gerontologist Professor Caleb Finch from the University of Southern California, released the findings of their latest work. They support the theory that dementia is a disease of modern humans and a consequence of contemporary lifestyles.
To reach this conclusion, the scientists analyzed written evidence dating back 2,000 to 2,500 years, during the times of Aristotle, Galen, and Cicero.
What the Researchers Discovered
Ancient Greeks acknowledged that aging typically causes memory issues, which today would be diagnosed as “mild cognitive impairment.” However, the texts studied contained no references to serious memory loss, speech, and thinking problems characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia that currently afflict millions worldwide.
The researchers thoroughly examined most of the ancient medical works of Hippocrates and his followers. The texts frequently mentioned ailments affecting the elderly, such as deafness, dizziness, and digestive disorders. However, there was no mention of memory loss.
In texts written a century later in Ancient Rome, a few references of this nature did appear. Galen noted that by the age of 80, some elderly individuals found it difficult to learn new things. Pliny the Elder remarked that the senator and renowned orator Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus forgot his own name. Cicero concluded that “senile folly… is characteristic of irresponsible old people, but not all old people.”
Professor Finch stated, “The ancient Greeks had very, very few pieces of evidence, but we found them—references to something akin to mild cognitive impairment… Among the Romans, we discovered at least four statements indicating rare cases of advanced dementia.”
The lead researcher asserted that analyzing these and other facts supports the idea that dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are products of modern life.
Why Are There So Few References?
Previously, other research teams studying ancient tombstones propagated the notion that the average lifespan of ancient Romans and Greeks did not exceed 30 to 35 years. However, dementia rarely manifests before the age of 60 (though it is not an inevitable companion of aging). This suggests that the disease, caused by age-related abnormal protein accumulation around brain cells, could not have been as prevalent in ancient times as it is today.
However, some historians reject the claim that the lives of Romans and Greeks were that short. Experts rely on chroniclers’ accounts that, for instance, candidates for certain political positions had to reach the age of 40. Additionally, some individuals even lived to be 100 years old, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Professor Finch suggested that as Roman cities expanded, environmental pollution increased. This could have led to a decline in cognitive functions among the population.
Moreover, Roman aristocrats used lead products in their daily lives, such as kitchen utensils and plumbing pipes. Historians note that ancient people even added lead acetate to wine to sweeten it, inadvertently poisoning themselves with a potent neurotoxin.
To support their findings, Professor Finch’s team also referenced research on the modern Tsimane, an indigenous people of the Bolivian Amazon. Like the ancient Greeks and Romans, the Tsimane still lead a pre-industrial lifestyle and are very physically active. Thus, it may not be surprising that cases of dementia among them are extremely rare.
An international team of cognitive ability researchers led by Professor Margaret Gatz from the University of Southern California found that only about one percent of elderly Tsimane suffer from dementia.
In comparison, this condition affects 11 percent of U.S. residents aged 65 and older.
Professor Finch noted, “This indicates that the environment is a huge determining factor in the risk of dementia.”
The study’s results were published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.