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How To Decrease Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Detect And Treat Depression

How to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

While we dont yet know how to prevent depression, we do know that many people with depression do not get adequate treatment, and that untreated depression can significantly increase risk for Alzheimers disease.The links between depression and dementia are complex. Many cognitive functions such as attention, memory and planning can be affected in depression , and in older patients, it can be unclear whether a cognitive problem is a symptom of depression, dementia, or both. It is thought ;that untreated depression can significantly increase risk for Alzheimers disease for example the MIRAGE study found a significant association between depression and Alzheimers disease .;

More Useful Links And Resources

Risk factors.Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2021. Read about risk factors for dementia in our downloadable, print-friendly infosheet. This sheet also contains strategies and lifestyle changes that can help you reduce your risk of developing dementia.

Understanding genetics and Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2018.In our downloadable, print-friendly infosheet, learn more about the role that genetics plays as a risk factor for dementia, and find out whether you should pursue genetic testing.

Risk factors and prevention. Alzheimer’s Society UK. This comprehensive webpage from the Alzheimer’s Society UK has some helpful nuggets of research and advice related to reducing your risk of dementia.

Tobacco use and dementia. World Health Organization , 2014. This report from the WHO details the evidence behind smoking tobacco as a risk factor for dementia.

Women and Dementia: Understanding sex/gender differences in the brain. brainXchange, 2018. This webinar discusses understandings of sex and gender, sex differences in Alzheimerâs disease, how the higher number of women with Alzheimer’s may be due to both, and a discussion of the role of estrogen in the health of brain regions associated with Alzheimerâs disease. In partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the Canadian Consortium of Neurodegeneration in Aging .

What Can You Do

Although there is no effective treatment or proven prevention for Alzheimers and related dementias, in general, leading a healthy lifestyle may help address risk factors that have been associated with these diseases.

Researchers cannot say for certain whether making the above lifestyle changes will protect against dementia, but these changes are good for your health and are all part of making healthy choices as you age.

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Tips For Cutting Down On Alcohol

  • Set yourself a limit and keep track of how much youre drinking.;
  • Try low-alcohol or alcohol-free drinks.
  • Try to alternate between alcoholic and soft drinks.
  • Take advantage of particular dates and events to motivate you. For example, you could make a new years resolution to drink less.
Risk factors you can’t change

Discover how age, genetics, gender and ethnicity can affect your risk of developing dementia.

Best Mind Games To Improve Brain Power

Can you reduce dementia risk?

Here we share some of the best mind games to boost your brainpower, improve your memory, concentration and focus on what you want to do. There are many exciting new and immersive mind games being developed and now are becoming available to play online for free.

Mind Machine

A thought detection game, currently available to play online and through your PC, iPhone, and iPad, reveals patterns in how you think.

Heroes of Mind

Heroes of Mind is an exciting new type of puzzle, inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, which challenges players to solve games within a first-person gaming environment. Gameplay can be played against a human opponent or a computer opponent.

Golden Finger

The golden finger is a new innovative and exciting mind game that is played on a 7×7 grid board.

Lemon Slicer

Lemon Slicer tests your ability to control your impulses. The game is simple but effective; players are assigned two forks which they must take turns slicing lemons in a shape matching that of a dragon. The first player to slice all five lemons wins.

Mind Reader

Mind Reader is the first social platform game that lets players interact with their friends in real-time through an immersive and exciting game.

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We Could Reduce The Risk Of Dementia And Alzheimers With This Simple Habit

In Italy there are almost one and a half million people suffering from senile dementia. Then 600 thousand of these are affected by Alzheimers. These are important numbers, yet we still know very little about this disease. We do not know the causes, nor the cure. However, a new study has shed light on a possible correlation between these pathologies and the health of a specific part of the body. So, we should take care of it and we could reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimers thanks to this simple habit. Although this may be just one of the many health benefits. In fact, it seems that a deep care of this part of the body can also decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This is because it is an easy gateway for bacteria which can then reach the blood, heart and brain.

Eat Like A Mediterranean

Over the past decades, research has formed a strong connection between dementia and diet. The Alzheimers Association reports that heart-healthy eating may also end up protecting the brain just as much as the heart.

Currently, there are two diets that might be the most beneficial to lowering the risk of dementia: the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet. The DASH diet, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, focuses on eating more vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans and vegetable oils. Similarly, the Mediterranean diet discourages red meat, instead encouraging more grains, fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil.;

Which one should you choose? The National Institutes of Health reports that eating a Mediterranean diet can decrease risk of age-related dementia, but the DASH diet is also showing promising results in research studies as well. Talk to your physician about which might be best for you.

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What Is Alzheimers Disease

  • Alzheimers disease is the most common type of dementia.
  • It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and;possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment.
  • Alzheimers disease involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
  • It can seriously affect a persons ability to carry out daily activities.

Pillar #: Healthy Diet

How to decrease risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

In Alzheimers disease, inflammation and insulin resistance injure neurons and inhibit communication between brain cells. Alzheimers is sometimes described as diabetes of the brain, and a growing body of research suggests a strong link between metabolic disorders and the signal processing systems. By adjusting your eating habits, however, you can help reduce inflammation and protect your brain.

Manage your weight. Extra pounds are a risk factor for Alzheimers disease and other types of dementia. A major study found that people who were overweight in midlife were twice as likely to develop Alzheimers down the line, and those who were obese had three times the risk.;Losing weight can go a long way to protecting your brain.

Cut down on sugar.Sugary foods and refined carbs such as white flour, white rice, and pasta can lead to dramatic spikes in blood sugar which inflame your brain. Watch out for hidden sugar in all kinds of packaged foods from cereals and bread to pasta sauce and low or no-fat products.

Enjoy a Mediterranean diet. Several epidemiological studies show that eating a Mediterranean diet dramatically reduces the risk of decline from cognitive impairment and Alzheimers disease. That means plenty of vegetables, beans, whole grains, fish and olive oiland limited processed food.

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Tips For Starting And Sticking With An Exercise Plan

If youve been inactive for a while, starting an exercise program can be intimidating. But remember: a little exercise is better than none. In fact, adding just modest amounts of physical activity to your weekly routine can have a profound effect on your health.

Choose activities you enjoy and start smalla 10-minute walk a few times a day, for exampleand allow yourself to gradually build up your momentum and self-confidence.;

A Significant Decline In Memory

An individual with Alzheimers will have difficulty remembering new information, dates, events, or needing a constant repeat of other information that typically they were capable of handling.; You may find them write themselves notes. Or, they might need friends and family to remind them about normal daily things.

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Exercise Your Body And Mind

Physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and some studies suggest that it can improve cognitive agility. For an Alzheimers patient, exercise may also help maintain muscle strength, decrease frailty, and elevate mood.

Some research suggests that exercising our brain, through activities like reading, learning a musical instrument, or playing chess, can help protect people from cognitive decline later in life. Again, rigorous clinical trials will be required to prove this is true. In the meantime, learning new skills and activities may, at a minimum, enrich your life.;Learn more about healthy living with Alzheimers disease.

Speak A Second Language

How to Reduce Your Risks of Developing Alzheimer

Learning a second language can help you out during your next international trip and help you feel empowered because you are learning something new. But learning a new language can also help improve your cognitive skills, helping to keep dementia at bay.; The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America reports that lifelong bilingualism can prevent cognitive decline and may help delay the onset of dementia.

If you havent been speaking a second language for your lifetime, dont despair. You can still reap significant benefits from learning a new language in your senior years. The Glasgow Memory Clinic states that people who learn a new language tend to have lower rates of dementia and memory issues later. While direct reasoning is not yet determined, it appears that learning a new language can cause resiliency in the brain, helping to reduce the chance of dementia or even delay its onset.

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Fish Helps You Think And Keeps Your Thinking Strong

What did the researchers find? Fish was the single most important dietary factor in lowering the risk of cognitive impairment. Vegetables were second best, and all other foods showed smaller, insignificant effects. Moreover, of all the foods evaluated, only fish was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline. Eating fish lowered the risk of both cognitive impairment and cognitive decline.

Can You Reduce Your Risk

We used to think that nothing could be done to prevent or halt the progress of dementia. However, recent research offers good news that actively managing your brain health may protect your brain against dementia, or work to slow down the process.6 Making healthy lifestyle changes can help reduce your chances of cognitive decline no matter what your genetic risk might be. For example, there are several cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors that can increase your risk of developing brain disease or cognitive decline over time. These risk factors can be prevented or modified with lifestyle changes, medication, or other interventions. It is very important to regularly consult with your family physician to understand if you have any of these medical risk factors and to monitor and optimally manage them over time.

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What Is Known About Alzheimers Disease

Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimers disease. There likely is not a single cause but rather several factors that can affect each person differently.

  • Age is the best known risk factor for Alzheimers disease.
  • Family historyresearchers believe that genetics may play a role in developing Alzheimers disease. However, genes do not equal destiny. A healthy lifestyle may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimers disease. Two large, long term studies indicate that adequate physical activity, a nutritious diet, limited alcohol consumption, and not smoking may help people. To learn more about the study, you can listen to a short podcast.
  • Changes in the brain can begin years before the first symptoms appear.
  • Researchers are studying whether education, diet, and environment play a role in developing Alzheimers disease.
  • There is growing scientific evidence that healthy behaviors, which have been shown to prevent cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, may also reduce risk for subjective cognitive decline. Heres 8 ways.

Final Thoughts: Prevention Of Alzheimers Disease Is Imperative

Reduce Your Risk for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers still search for a cure for Alzheimers Disease. Therefore, every step doctors and scientists can take to decrease its severity or delay its onset is a blessing to the patients and their families.

Neurologists explain the four ways to lower your risk of Alzheimers, and it all boils down to a proper diet, exercise plan, sleep, and keeping your brain learning something new.;; Mixing that with potentially new medications and an accurate early blood testing may give hope to the millions in the next 30 years of limiting the devastation that Alzheimers can cause.

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How To Reduce Alzheimers Risk

Avoiding sugar-sweetened drinks, and choosing naturally low-calorie or low-fat foods, is one good way to reduce your risk.

Research suggests that a Mediterranean-style diet, which is high in vegetables, fruit, nuts, beans, and fish, and low in red meat and sugar-sweetened drinks, may help to reduce the risk of dementia in people with diabetes.

In addition, a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit and active is important, especially for people who are overweight or obese, who are more likely to develop dementia. So eating healthily, being physically active, not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, and drinking less alcohol are all good things to do.

Ways To Lower Your Alzheimers Risk

Adopting four of five healthy lifestyle measures may lower your risk of developing Alzheimers disease by up to 60 percent, according to a new report. The study, of nearly 3,000 men and women who were enrolled in two separate studies, found that the healthier your lifestyle, the lower your risk of developing Alzheimers disease.

The five measures the researchers tested were:

Regular exercise. Physical activity is good for the heart and blood vessels, including those in the brain. Experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous intensity exercise. Studies have shown that regular aerobic activities like walking, cycling or climbing stairs improved thinking skills in people in their 20s, and that the benefits of exercise on thinking skills continued to accrue as people age. Exercise can also be good for people with Alzheimers, helping to improve coordination and prevent falls, a leading cause of disability in older people.

Dont smoke. Smoking has been shown to speed up cognitive decline and may spur the onset of Alzheimers disease. It damages blood vessels throughout the body, including in the brain. Middle-aged smokers score worse on memory tests than their nonsmoking peers, studies show. But quitting smoking, regardless of age, has benefits. Even in people over 60 who have been lifelong smokers, quitting will improve health, and the benefits may be immediate.

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Reducing Your Risk Factors

It is possible to evaluate your predisposition to develop Alzheimers disease and make lifestyle choices that reduce your risk factors. More and more evidence is emerging that proves environmental factors play a significant role in determining if the disease will develop and progress.

  • Use the Internet to do research on genetic conditions. Some useful sites are:
  • Medline Plus
  • Learn as much as you can about your family health history, especially about your siblings, parents, and grandparents.
  • Consult a genetic counselor. Genetic counselors provide information and support to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions. They identify families at risk, analyze inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence and discuss options with the family. Locate a counselor at the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
  • Have a memory screening done on a regular basis, as part of your annual physical. Many memory difficulties are due to correctable conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies or stress.
  • Consult a doctor if you are concerned about a head injury and Alzheimers.
  • Make healthy lifestyle choices. By using programs like the ARPFs 4 Pillars of Alzheimers Prevention it is possible to minimize the risk factors and prevent memory loss.
  • Support For Family And Friends

    » Living well with the dementia app. Back to the future?

    Currently, many people living with Alzheimers disease are cared for at home by family members. Caregiving can have positive aspects for the caregiver as well as the person being cared for. It may bring personal fulfillment to the caregiver, such as satisfaction from helping a family member or friend, and lead to the development of new skills and improved family relationships.

    Although most people willingly provide care to their loved ones and friends, caring for a person with Alzheimers disease at home can be a difficult task and may become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. As the disease gets worse, people living with Alzheimers disease often need more intensive care.

    You can find more information about caring for yourself and access a helpful care planning form.

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    Detect And Treat Diabetes

    Diabetes, and its treatments, can impact the brain and cognitive function, making it another risk factor for Alzheimers disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies showed that people with diabetes are at higher risk of Alzheimers . If drugs were available to improve cognitive deficits, could this slow decline?

    Taking Vitamins And Medications

  • 1Get 5mg daily of vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, a chemical that fights other damage-causing chemicals in your body and brain. Its found in nuts, seeds, avocadoes, mango, papaya, tomatoes, red peppers, and spinach. Talk to your doctor about your diet and if you get less than 5mg of vitamin E daily, consider taking a supplement.XResearch source
  • 2Take vitamin B and folate supplements. Vitamin B9 contains folic acid which, along with vitamin B12, may help prevent brain deterioration. Folate and B12 are the most helpful for this; vitamin D, magnesium and fish oil supplements may also be beneficial.XTrustworthy SourceHelpGuideNonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.Go to source
  • Try to get as much folate from your food as you can. Foods high in folate include lentils, spinach, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, parsley, collard greens, asparagus and romaine lettuce.
  • Foods containing B12 and other B vitamins are fish, potatoes, eggs, poultry, cereal marked as fortified, and red meat but eat red meat sparingly and get a lean cut to keep cholesterol down.
  • 4Look into Alpha-GPC. Alpha-GPC may be helpful in slowing progression of mild to moderate Alzheimers, especially when used in conjunction with standard medications. It is considered a safe non-prescription drug in many countries, and in the United States it is classified as generally recognized as safe . Ask your doctor about its use and availability.
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