Anyone who has a brain is at risk for Alzheimers Disease (AD).
Today there is no pharmacological cure for AD. There has been and continues to be a big investment in identifying a cure for AD. Being proactive and taking actions to lower the risk of developing AD is a well worth the investment.
Many people fear dementia and AD more than they fear dying. We accept we will age and we will decline physically and mentally however losing one’s memory is difficult to contemplate. The loss of cognitive function, memory loss, reasoning abilities and identity loss are direct consequences of AD. It’s a difficult disease, we have limited understanding of how and why it begins and how to slow or prevent it. Unlike cancer we currently have no way to treat it once symptoms begin and unlike type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction it does not appear to be readily reversible.
Looking at AD from the viewpoint of prevention we know more about preventing AD than we do about preventing cancer. With AD there is a large preventative tool kit at our disposal and better diagnostic methods as well.
So what can we do to lower the risk of AD. Firstly a disclaimer I am not a doctor and it’s always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for personalised recommendations based on your individual circumstances.
How can we lower the risk of AD ? We can do this by adopting a combination of lifestyle changes and maintaining brain health. As a health coach I can support my clients to develop and maintain “Healthy Habits”
It’s affirming to understand that habits that support general health also contribute to brain health such as regular physical exercise, aerobic and strength training. Good nutrition avoiding excessive consumption of processed foods, saturated fats and excess sugar.
Maintaining good metabolic health, avoiding metabolic syndrome, is good for the heart and good for the brain. Ensuring good quality sleep, 7-8h per night. Avoiding smoking and drinking excessively. None of these should come as a surprise however like all good habits getting from the “Knowing to the Doing” may be a challenge.
Being socially engaged, playing brain games, building a cognitive reserve, avoiding environmental toxins, avoiding head injuries all support increased brain health and reduce the risk of of AD.
Supplements including EPA, DHA, Vitamins B12, B9 and B6 can also improve overall brain health.
I just released a podcast that goes into more detail on reducing the risk of AD and as a final point I would add the earlier you start developing the practices outlined above the more time you have to lower the risk.
In summary there is a lot we can do to lower the risk of AD and dementia and the earlier we start the lower the risk.