Alzheimer’s disease affects many people who are elderly as well as some who are not. This week Disability Living is writing specifically for Canada’s senior disability community — that’s why we’ve published this post about easy ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick Tips for Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease
Here are just a few ways you can protect yourself against Alzheimer’s disease and keep your brain healthy and sharp:
– Exercise – This may sound too good to be true, but it’s been reported that “exercise can cut your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 50 percent.” That is amazing!
No one who wants to be proactive about his or her health can afford not to exercise (provided they are physically capable). It is best to get around half an hour of physical activity (aerobic) about 5 times per week. Don’t forget to talk to your doctor before you begin exercising.
– Sharpen Your Mind - There are several ways you can keep your mind sharp and healthy. First, you can learn a new language or study something new and challenging, such as a musical instrument you don’t already play. Second, challenge yourself with puzzles or board games (such as Scrabble). Also, try to memorize as much as you can — memorization can help keep your mind young.
– Sleep - This may surprise you, but sleep is a powerful weapon against Alzheimer’s. It’s vital that you get good sleep each night to promote your chances of not developing Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, “If nightly sleep deprivation is slowing your thinking and affecting your mood, you may be at greater risk of developing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.” Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
– Eat Healthy - Strive to feed yourself the healthiest food that you can, such as good fats, fruits, vegetables, and protein. The Mediterranean diet may be good for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Your goal in eating should be to “reduce inflammation.” Do this by ingesting Omega-3’s, steering clear of saturated and trans fats, drinking tea, and eating brightly colored fruits and vegetables.
What are your tips for staying mentally sharp?
Do you have your own methods of staying vibrant and healthy? If so, let us know. We know the whole disability community of Canada would appreciate it.
Sources:
http://www.prevention.com/alzheimers/index.shtml
http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing_down_treatment.htm
Image made available by Martin Cathrae on Flickr through Creative Commons License.
*Please note: All research for this article is compiled from direct and third party sources. Mention of programs, organizations and companies does not imply support of The National Benefit Authority. Pictures are for creative purposes only; they are not intended to sell or promote products for the NBA and belong to the accredited individual, organization or company.
Let’s Talk About It
Prior to reading this post, did you know that there were preventative steps you could take to avoid Alzheimer’s disease?
Did you know that exercise was so effective at preventing Alzheimer’s?
I believe alzheimers is sometimes in our face to much,specially for seniors. They begin to worry about having it. Than next thing you know they forget one thing and they are told you have alzhemers. I believe in good food, excerise and mind stretching projects. For those who cannot exercise or have food issues or very little eye site we need to help them in other ways. Not all of us are perfect like Miss Twiggy , healthy 20 years and look picture perfect. Lets use some real people with real health issues, lack of eye site, or walking issues and in pain.
I totally agree. Thanks for your comments. We need to get more sources of funding so we can set up our own programs at a more localized level and let the seniors decide what they need. Do you have any ideas on sources for funding?
I am a board member (and senior) using a motorized wheelchair for our co-op housing in Thunder Bay. Your response would be greatly appreciated
There are many ways to prevent alzheimers; my top tips are: reading, memorizing trival things (i.e. names,cards,shopping list,license plates etc.), spelling out words backwords in your mind, arithmetic (math questions). Getting lots of oxygen (being in nature, the best is with lots of trees, if no trees go outside and breath fresh air.) If they/you are up to it learn to meditate (there are many ways to meditate just do a search online. Conscious breathing (paying attention to your breath, following the inbreath and out breath.) is a good way to start. Also check out binural beats. They are audio sounds that play in each ear at different frequencies which synchronize both hemispheres of the brain .
These are a few tips that came up after recoverying from a TBI (brain injury). I hope this helps somebody.
Only the best!
I had a start of Alzheimer disease back in the 1990th while I was in my seventieth. during the year 2000, while studying live blood, I discovered that meat was the worst food anyone can eat because it generates plaque. All of my infections and arthritis disappeared. My immune system even stopped my prostate cancer from proceeding to threaten my life. Today at almost 88 I look like a man in my early seventieth and work daily actively on my research.
Thomas N. Sluyter
I am very nervous of this disease.