It will take a team effort to end Alzheimer’s disease. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, recent Alzheimer’s research has shown that everyday lifestyle choices could reduce your risk factors. Here are 10 ways to get you started.
- Speak a second language. Bilingualism may strengthen overall cognitive skills and delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease by an average of four years. (The Journal Neurology).
- Flex your brainpower. Older adults who frequently read books and newspapers, do crossword puzzles or play cards could reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 47%. (The Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center).
- Eat like a Mediterranean. A diet rich in vegetables, legumes, fruits, fish and mono-unsaturated fats has been linked with a 48% reduction in risk for cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer’s. (Columbia University).
- Pour a glass of red wine. Polyphenol, a compound in red wine, may reduce plaque formations in the brain linked to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. (Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and UCLA).
- Drink coffee. People who drink 3-5 cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s by 65%. (The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease).
- Lower your blood pressure. Controlling hypertension in the pre- or early stages of Alzheimer’s may reduce or delay the effects of the condition. (The Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology).
- Get your fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, anchovies, walnuts and their foods have been associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and slower cognitive decline. (The Journal Neurology).
- Don’t smoke. People who smoke heavily during middle age have a 157% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Also, quitting smoking earlier can result in fewer risk factors for dementia overall. (The Archives of Internal Medicine).
- Get moving. Moderate aerobic exercise such as walking may strengthen connections between circuits in the brain associated with cognitive abilities, including planning, prioritizing, multi-tasking and strategizing. (University of Illinois).
- Sap your stress. Stressful life experiences may be linked to the onset and severity of Alzheimer’s disease. However, stress-busting activities like yoga and meditation may improve cognitive function and slow this decline. (The Journal of Neuroscience).