Further comments on the reseach by other Neuroacientist. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=77093

quote:
“When we muse to ourselves and plan our day and think about the recent past, we tend to use memory systems,” Buckner said. “Through some as yet unknown pathway or metabolism cascade, use of these systems may be what underlies Alzheimer’s disease.” And the undirected thought patterns that most people slip into readily may result in the kind of “wear and tear” that ends in Alzheimer's disease, Buckner said.

This theory, however, clashes with the evidence that intellectual activity plays a protective role against Alzheimer's disease. Far from the “wear and tear” model, other research has suggested that the brain runs on a “use it or lose it” system.

Buckner and other neuroscientists acknowledge the contradiction, and put it down to the preliminary state of the research.

Alex

[This message has been edited by Alex K. Viefhaus (edited August 28, 2005).]