Our knowledge about the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and dementia is in the early stages. In large studies, multiple factors have been linked to a lower risk, but we can't (yet) determine if changing these risk factors will change the rates of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The good news is that if you improve these risk factors, you'll also improve your heart health and overall quality of life -- so why not? You just might reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia too.
Is the life expectancy for someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia shorter than it would be without? This is a tricky question to answer, but enough data collected over the years hints just how long a person with Alzheimer's disease or dementia can expect to live on average.
Ginkgo biloba holds such promise for protecting our brains and our memories as we age. Unfortunately, ginkgo just isn't panning out for Alzheimer's and dementia prevention. Of course, the studies that were reviewed weren't of the best quality, but right now it doesn't look like we can say that taking ginkgo biloba will prevent Alzheimer's disease or dementia (though it may help with memory -- see below).
Does your brain stand a chance as you age? It seems like once people hit a certain age, memory and other brain functions begin to slip. Are conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease inevitable? Does anyone in the world survive to an old age without these problems?
Here's some good news: People with lower cholesterol levels in their mid 40s developed Alzheimer's disease and dementia at lower rates than people with high cholesterol. That makes some sense. Less gunk in your blood has to be good for the brain as well as the heart right? Here is something concrete you can do -- keep your cholesterol low.
Men and women have different risk factors for dementia and cognitive impairment. That's weird. Men's risk factors are more physical and women's seem to link to social/relationships more. Find out your risk factors and what (if anything) you can do about them.
The size of your belly in mid-life may impact the health of your brain in old age. Researchers have linked bigger bellies to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Just another reason to keep your belly small.
The jury's still out on Chinese club moss and reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, but this little plant contains a substance that can change how things are processed in the brain. The result? Improved memory and cognition in people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia (in theory). A larger study needs to be done to figure out if it really works.
Ginkgo biloba might have been a bust for preventing Alzheimer's disease and dementia, but it still holds promise for protecting memory as we grow older. Ginkgo bilboa hasn't been fully proven to work, but it is a popular supplement.
Maybe it is because exercise reduces your weight, maybe it is because exercise reduces your cholesterol, maybe exercise is just plain good for you. Whatever the reason, exercise has also been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. You already know that your should exercise for your heart. But it looks like you should exercise for your brain too.
Take a bunch of nuns and follow them for years. Some will develop dementia and some won't. They all live in the same place, eat the same foods and have the same health care. Find out which nuns developed dementia and which did not.
Games, brain exercises and mental fitness activities have been suggested as a way to keep your brain healthy. The data is still not 100% clear if engaging your brain in these types of activities will prevent Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Meanwhile, why not try them anyway. They are entertaining, could help keep your brain sharp and a lot of fun.
