Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that is fatal. It slowly robs its victims of their memories and thinking skills, and currently there is no known cure.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take on your own to help lower your risk of developing the deadly disease. Here are 8 easy things you can do to help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.
1. Go Mediterranean
There is an abundance of information available that backs the claim that a Mediterranean diet benefits not only the heart, but the brain as well. The National Institutes of Health published an analysis [1] of a number of studies that researched the benefits of a Mediterranean diet, and the results were clear. There was a significant connection between people who followed the specialized diet and a reduced risk of developing degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
2. A Little Red Wine
Red wine? Absolutely. The secret ingredient is a natural compound found in grapes, called Resveratrol, according to The National Institutes of Health [2]. According to various studies [3, 4], when consumed in moderation, red wine has been linked to lower rates of Alzheimer’s.
3. Keep Your Blood Pressure Down
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. In fact, researchers at John Hopkins University have found a link between the administering of prescription blood pressure medications and a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease [5]. Luckily, high blood pressure can be easily controlled through, among other things, simple dietary changes.
See also: preventing Alzheimer’s
4. Limit Trans Fat and Saturated Fats
Aside from helping to improve overall health, a diet low in trans fats and saturated fats may also help lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A series of studies reported by the National Institutes of Health highlight a possible link between Alzheimer’s and cholesterol, as well as a lower risk of Alzheimer’s development in those who’ve been prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs versus those who hadn’t been given prescriptions [6].
5. Supplements Can Help
A high dose B vitamin treatment containing folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 was shown to slow down the shrinkage of brain volume over a two-year period in a recent study [7]. The study, reported by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), showed that the vitamin treatment aided the area of gray matter most vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease by as much as seven times because it stopped cerebral atrophy.
6. The Social Connection
An active social life is linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s [8]. The more we travel, spend time with our families and friends, and participate in volunteer and community work, the better our chances of not developing Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia [9].
7. Go for a Walk
