How to Prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s
For many of us, it’s the ultimate nightmare: the thought of losing our memories and our ability to function—or watching a loved one slip away—to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Every year, five hundred thousand Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Because it happens to people as they age, many believe that these cognitive disorders are simply the price one pays for growing older. But that is most definitely not the case!
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are disease conditions that occur when brain cells no longer function the way they are supposed to. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but the important thing to know is that in most cases, dementia is completely preventable.
Let’s explore some ways to keep you and the people you care about happy, healthy, and mentally sharp no matter how old you get!
3 Powerful Lifestyle Practices for Alzheimer’s Prevention
These simple lifestyle changes can help anyone improve cognition and reduce their risk of dementia as they age:
Get out and socialize.
Getting together with friends is not only fun, it’s essential for optimal health—including brain health. One study of 2,249 California women showed that women with well-developed social networks were 26% less likely to develop dementia—and those who had daily contact with family and friends reduced that risk to nearly 50%.
Move your body.
Physical exercise boosts brain metabolism and has been shown repeatedly to improve cognitive performance and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. An added bonus: exercise strengthens the body and improves balance, reducing the risk of fall-related injury as you age.
Eat right.
Eating a healthy diet may be the most important thing you can do to prevent age-related memory loss. A diet filled with processed foods and empty calories robs your brain of the nutrients it needs to function at optimal levels. Instead, fill up on delicious organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins…and yes! yummy dark chocolate is on the list!
These days, not even the best diet is guaranteed to give us everything we need for perfect health. So adding high-quality nutritional supplements to the diet is a smart move for Alzheimer’s prevention.
Watch Dr. Young’s video above for her top 3 supplement recommendations to prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s!
Concerned about your cognitive health?
If you have noticed signs of cognitive decline in yourself or a loved one, don’t delay in getting it checked out right away. Dementia is a complex condition and needs to be taken seriously. It’s important to get tested and get the proper diagnosis, so you can start a treatment plan that is appropriate for your needs.
An excellent first step is to call our Patient Care Concierge for a complimentary consultation. This can be done over the phone from the comfort of your own home. You can reach her directly at 408.761.6781, or schedule a complimentary consultation below.
