How to reduce the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s Disease
Even though no cure yet exists for Alzheimer’s Disease, you can take steps that may help reduce the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s and other forms of vascular dementia. Many are the same steps we all should be taking to stay healthy.
Eat a heart-healthy diet.
Lose weight if you are overweight, and keep it off. Studies have shown that obesity changes the brain in ways that make it more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s.
Get regular exercise. Even a little exercise every day helps a lot! Exercising for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week is the best way to send oxygen to the brain, and that makes your brain much healthier.
Eliminate as much stress as possible from your life, and develop effective ways to cope with stress when it occurs.
Don’t smoke. Smoking dramatically reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the brain when you breathe. It can cause memory loss that has nothing to do with Alzheimer’s, but depriving the brain of oxygen can over time make it more susceptible to Alzheimer’s.
Limit daily alcohol.
Keep track of your numbers through regular checkups with your doctor. Medical research has shown a strong connection between Alzheimer’s and conditions of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Knowing you may have such numbers you can then do something about them.