Alzheimer’s Prevention: the Key to Aging Gracefully

The Alzheimer’s Prevention lifestyle includes:

eating right, exercise, doing something new and different, being socially active

There are no hard and fast rules exist for Alzheimer’s prevention. More and more research shows that you can age gracefully. Alzheimer’s is a hereditary and genetic disease. It has traditionally has meant that if you had a family history of elderly dementia… it is quite likely that you would meet the same fate. However, the latest scientific research seems to show ….keeping your brain and body active, can improve the link between mind and muscle. Which in turn can stave off the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Five Key Lifestyle Choices for Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention

Lifestyles choices help promote brain fitness and Alzheimer’s prevention. These help to keep Alzheimer’s at bay, Currently no cure exists for this disease.

Scientists believe people have five key choices to make to promote aging gracefully:

• Nutrition
• Physical exercise
• Mental exercise
• Socializing
• Stress management

Lifestyle choices can impact Alzheimer’s prevention. You need to know how they impact on your mental health.

The Art of Aging Well

Nutrition

Nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease have long been associated. Pound for pound, the human brain needs more calories to function than any other organ in your body. The sub-conscious brain processes run even during sleep. They can leave you feeling hungry in the morning. Provide your brain with enough calories and the right vitamins and minerals. It will help keep you mentally healthy for a longer time. In particular, you should aim to include these foods in your diet:

• Omega-3. This promotes synapse health. It is found in most oily fish like salmon and tuna. As well as most forms of margarine and butter.
• Fruit with red or purple flesh. The colors come from different antioxidants present in the fruit. This helps to break down unwanted chemicals in your blood stream. Antioxidants are also present in red wine and dark chocolate.
• Whole meal products. Food high in white processed flour can cause your blood sugar levels to spike. This puts a massive strain on your brain when the excess glucose reaches your head. Whole meal products release their energy much more slowly.

Physical Exercise

One of the key symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is the degradation of the link between the body and the mind. Many elderly people become more sedentary as their body stops working. It becomes more painful to move. Even gentle exercise can help Alzheimer’s prevention.

Before you reach old age, you can improve your chances of avoiding mental health problems…. with a regular fitness regime. Then when you do start to have limited mobility… a gentle walk, gardening or even chair-based exercises will help. They will keep the link strong between your mind and your muscles.

Mental Exercise

Your brain is effectively a big muscle. Just like a lack of physical exercise will lead to your muscles atrophying, choosing not to engage yourself mentally will lead to your brain becoming weaker.

Studies have shown that older people who… do a daily crossword, learn a new language, or keep a diary of their day-to-day activities… stay mentally healthy for longer. You could choose to take an online learning course. Or take part in forum discussion on your favorite subjects.

Socializing

Humans have a need for contact with other people and this stays strong all the way through your life. Each time you talk to someone, your brain goes into overdrive. It is trying to decode words, as well as the non-verbal communication and subtext.

Even just meeting a friend for coffee is beneficial in Alzheimer’s prevention. Becoming part of a group that meets regularly can also count as mental exercise. Talking to someone on the phone or over the Internet is a good substitute. But try to meet face to face as much as possible.

Stress Management

When you are stressed out, you put a lot of pressure on your brain. Especially on the hippocampus, which is your brain’s long-term memory store. Too much cortisol, which is the chemical produced when you are stressed. It erodes the hippocampus.

Leading a stress free lifestyle is key for Alzheimer’s prevention.

This incorporates taking your time to:

• Enjoy your food
• Doing some exercise
• Giving yourself some mental stimulation
• Meeting up with friends and family regularly.

If you cannot avoid stress through your job or family, try to give yourself some relaxation time each day… with quiet music, low lighting and a time to reflect on your stresses and how to relieve them. You may not be able to find an absolute solution but you may be able to think of ways to pass the stress to someone else.

Making these lifestyle choices will certainly help Alzheimer’s prevention for most people. You should still monitor yourself for any symptoms. and alert your doctor as soon as possible if you think that something is wrong. Modern drugs can be effective at slowing down Alzheimer’s but only if it is caught early.

http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing_down_treatment.htm

http://www.alzheimersprevention.org/