By 2031, it is estimated that more than
three million people will be suffering from either early or advanced symptoms
of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Care for people suffering from this disease comes
at a cost of over $220 billion in the United States. These figures are
staggering, especially when there are ways in which you can reduce the risk of
it happening to you.
Below are five ways you can reduce the risk
of getting Alzheimer’s or a related form of dementia.
Believe it or not, it’s all down to how well you look after your body and mind.
Keep your mind active
As we hit the age for retirement, we’re
often not required to think as much as we used to. Our day-to-day tasks within
a working environment have all of a sudden come to an end. Don’t let the end of
your working life be the end of your mental stimulation.
Now, more than ever,
it’s important to think and be motivated and challenged. Take up a new
language, get involved in trivia, do puzzles, crosswords or sudoku. Do anything
that will stimulate your mind. You could even take up a new form of study. The
options are endless.
Reduce your sugar intake
While it’s a contributor in many illnesses,
it’s not widely known that overindulging in sugar is also linked to
Alzheimer’s. By reducing your sugar intake, you are vowing to keep your brain
healthy.
Try to exclude those fruit juices that you see in the grocery store because they are loaded with sugar. You will also feel healthier for it, while reducing the risk of
diabetes in the process. There are many other food ingredients to be aware of and you can take a look more here.
Reduce your stress levels
While your everyday work or home life might
come with its own set of challenges, it’s time to let stress take a back seat.
By allowing yourself to become anxious or stressed, your risk of developing
Alzheimer’s can be increased by up to 135%. If you’re already at risk for the disease, it’s best you undertake stress-reducing exercises to take back control.
Alzheimer’s can be increased by up to 135%. If you’re already at risk for the disease, it’s best you undertake stress-reducing exercises to take back control.
Exercise regularly
The first part of your brain to be attacked
by Alzheimer’s is the hippocampus. If you choose to make regular exercise a
part of your everyday routine, you are preserving the current hippocampal
volume.
This can help reduce the risk. Why not go for a walk or take up dancing? Even gardening is a good form of exercise. If you run 15 miles per week, you can also reduce the risk by as much as 40%.
This can help reduce the risk. Why not go for a walk or take up dancing? Even gardening is a good form of exercise. If you run 15 miles per week, you can also reduce the risk by as much as 40%.
Quit smoking
It has been a long time since smoking was
ever considered beneficial. In fact, it’s now considered the cause of many
diseases and deaths. If you’re a smoker, you have a 45% higher chance of
developing Alzheimer’s than someone who doesn’t smoke. It’s claimed that up to
14% of all dementia cases could be attributed to smoking. If you weren’t
planning on quitting any time soon, this might encourage you to do so.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that can take away
your freedom, your independence and your mind. Because there are so many ways
you can reduce the risk of it affecting you and your family, why wouldn’t you
give some of them a go? Leading a much healthier lifestyle means you can be
with friends and family for far longer.
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