Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention: 5 Steps That You Should Abide By
By Nmami Agarwal 20-Jan 2022 Reading Time: 4 Mins
It is a very common form of dementia or forgetfulness that is related to memory loss, either short or long term, and reducing cognitive skills, and being disoriented.
It is common with growing old age and some symptoms caused by Alzheimer’s are-
– Confusion and disorientation
– Issues with logical thinking and reasoning
– Depression
– Anxiety
– Facial recognition
– Paranoia or extreme aggression
– Feeling overwhelmed by daily routine obligations or tasks
– Forgetfulness
Now steps that can help you prevent or reduce chances of getting Alzheimer’s are-
1- Managing your numbers- Studies have shown a strong connection between blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol, and heart diseases with Alzheimer’s. Keeping your sugar and stats in check can help reduce the chances of developing the disease. Regular check-ups and health tests can be a very good start. Diabetic patients should carry out proper treatment since insulin plays an important role in the development of Alzheimer’s.
2- Weight management- Obesity affects the brain, it increases the chances of developing dementia-like symptoms
3- Exercise- Regular exercise can increase the blood flow to the brain, making it healthier. Exercising regularly at least 5 times a week, even for thirty minutes can be very beneficial for overall health as well.
4- Active use of the brain and Safety- People who use their brain often and are keen on learning can work as a brain stimulant and work effectively towards problems and can act as a physical workout, staying social and active helps too. Physical damages or hurting your head can lead to Alzheimer’s in later stages of life and therefore safety is a requirement, proper padding in the house and not having dangerous objects or areas is something that should be kept in mind. Cognitive training has proved to be very successful in the prevention of the disorder.
5- Diet- It plays a very important role in maintaining the proper functioning of the body. Having a proper diet and eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and proteins, and low-fat dairy can prove to be very beneficial. Accordingly, restricting saturated fats (which can be found in full-fat dairy products and meat), artificial sugars, carbs, sodium, and harmful substances like alcohol or tobacco. Smoking or drinking should be avoided. Nutrients like antioxidants (antioxidants are found in blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries), omega- 3 fatty acids, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are all very helpful when included in the diet.
Another helpful way to reduce Alzheimer’s occurrence is lowering homocysteine, which is an amino acid, which happens to be the building block of protein and circulates in the blood. Foods that can help reduce the levels are romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus or broccoli, eggs, or meat.