If you want to stay sharp and in control of your life well into
your golden years, there are proactive methods to achieving the
mental alertness you need. More and more research is pointing to
the fact that physical activity and lifestyle choices have more
to do with preventing Alzheimer s disease (AD) and other forms
of dementia - once thought to be a normal part of aging - than
pure genetics. So if you had a parent, grandparent or sibling
with AD it doesn't mean you have to follow the same path.
Statistics gathered from extensive research do point toward a
higher risk of developing AD if you had a close relative with AD
- as much as 50%, but that has less to do with genes and more to
do with following their lifestyle patterns. If for example, your
parents were smokers who rarely exercised, you may have
developed some of the same destructive habits.
What can you do to break the cycle and prevent AD? Take action
and take control today. Even if you are in your 60s or 70s you
can reverse some of the damage done to your brain through poor
diet, inactivity, or damaging lifestyle choices. Scientists have
discovered very recently that the brain has the ability to
repair cells and neurotransmitters and improve cognitive
function and memory.
It's Not Too Late to Make A Difference: Start the 5 Steps Today
1. Eat Right. It seems so simple, yet too many people just don't
get enough of the mind preserving antioxidants found in fresh
fruits and vegetables. A well-balanced diet, free of diary
products and using low fat sources of protein will protect both
heart and mind.
2. Supplement where necessary. Many diets lack the nutrients
proven to promote brain health. These include sources of
essential fatty acids found in fish and specific herbs and
minerals that can enhance cognitive function.
3. Exercise. Originally it was thought that exercise increases
blood flow and oxygen to the brain cells. This is still true,
but a report prepared for the National Institutes of Health
states that exercise can also stimulate the production growth
factors, which are molecules produced by the body to repair and
maintain nerves.
4. Lower Your Cholesterol. Many people with early dementia or AD
symptoms may have actually experienced small strokes that
damaged the brain's neurotransmitters. By keeping cholesterol
levels in check, the arteries are free and clear of plaque that
can cause stroke.
5. Do your Mental Exercises. Keeping up with current events,
working puzzles each day, learning and memorizing new
information all work to keeping a mind strong and alert. It is
normal for people to sometimes forget a name or date, but the
more practice recalling such information the greater the brain's
ability to do this throughout old age. In the case of mental
challenges, the more you do the more you can push back the clock
on cognitive decline.
Five easy steps, when you think about it, can do much to make
aging an event to celebrate instead of dread. With age there
comes experience and wisdom, and we should all do whatever is
within our power to be able to pass that on to the next
generation.
About the author:
Frank Mangano is an active member of his community who works
diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing
as a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to
promote well being. Find out how you can maintain good mental
health at:
http://www.alzheimersdefense.com/
