5 Steps To Staying Mentally Sharp And Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease
Summary:
If you want to stay sharp and in control of your life well into your golden years, there are proactive methods to achieving the mental alertness you need. More and more research is pointing to the fact that physical activity and lifestyle choices have more to do with preventing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other forms of dementia – once thought to be a normal part of aging – than pure genetics. So if you had a parent, grandparent, or sibling with AD it doesn’t mean you have to…
If you want to stay sharp and in control of your life well into your golden years, there are proactive methods to achieving the mental alertness you need. Research is increasingly suggesting that lifestyle choices and physical activity are more important in avoiding dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), than pure heredity.
Previously, it was believed that dementia was a normal aspect of aging. So if you had a parent, grandparent, or sibling with AD it doesn’t mean you have to follow the same path.
Statistics gathered from extensive research do point toward a higher risk of developing AD if you had a close relative with AD – as much as 50%, but that has less to do with genes and more to do with following their lifestyle patterns.
For instance, you might have picked up some of the same harmful habits if your parents smoked and didn’t exercise much.
What can you do to break the cycle and prevent AD?
Take action and take control today. Even if you are in your 60s or 70s you can reverse some of the damage done to your brain through poor diet, inactivity, or damaging lifestyle choices.
Scientists have discovered very recently that the brain has the ability to repair cells and neurotransmitters and improve cognitive function and memory.
It’s Not Too Late to Make A Difference: Start the 5 Steps Today
1. Eat Right:
It seems so simple, yet too many people just don’t get enough of the mind preserving antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Heart and cognitive health are enhanced by eating a well-balanced diet reduced in fat and dairy products.
2. Supplement where necessary:
Many diets lack the nutrients proven to promote brain health. These include fish, which is a good source of vital fatty acids, as well as some herbs and minerals that have been shown to improve cognitive function.
3. Exercise:
Originally it was thought that exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain cells. This is still true, but a report prepared for the National Institutes of Health states that exercise can also stimulate the production growth factors, which are molecules produced by the body to repair and maintain nerves.
4. Lower Your Cholesterol:
Numerous individuals exhibiting early signs of dementia or AD may have had little strokes that resulted in neurotransmitter damage to the brain. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels keeps the arteries free of plaque, which reduces the risk of stroke.
5. Do your Mental Exercises:
Keeping up with current events, working puzzles each day, and learning and memorizing new information all work to keep a mind strong and alert. While it is common for humans to occasionally forget names or dates, the brain’s capacity to retain this information into old age increases with repetition.
In the case of mental challenges, the more you do the more you can push back the clock on cognitive decline.