5 things That May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Last Updated on December 31, 2020

2. Physical activity

Being physically active will improve your health significantly by reducing stress, the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and strengthening the muscles (among many other benefits). But you already know that. What you may not know is that physical activity is also important for the brain. Several studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Medical experts recommend about 30 minutes of moderate to intense exercising at least three times a week. This routine will help your brain in maintaining healthy blood flow, increasing the production of protective chemicals, and countering the reduction in brain connections that are part of the aging process.

3. Sleep

Recent Alzheimer’s disease research suggests that poor sleep quality (sleeping less than six hours per night or suffering from insomnia) is linked with greater levels of tau tangles and amyloid plaques in the brain, two characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease. If you often have trouble sleeping, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor so they can help you find the cause and recommend you proper treatment – that may include seeing a therapist. You should consistently sleep for 7 – 8 hours a night (depending on your personal needs), keep a regular bedtime routine, and avoid drinking any form of caffeine or alcohol near bedtime. These habits are also key to improve your mental health. Other lifestyle improvements can help you fight the development of Alzheimer’s disease but whose benefits are not properly supported by strong medical evidence:

4. Learn

Learning new things and engaging in intellectually stimulating activities is a great way to improve brain health and can potentially reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to some studies. Reading books, playing games (puzzles, board games, videogames, etc.) and musical instruments, and constantly learning new skills (such as a second language, for example) improves neural functioning and can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Social interactions can be just as important as learning a new skill or keeping an adequate sleeping schedule, especially as we age. They force us to constantly do some form of mental exercise that is extremely important for reducing the risk of cognitive decline. Volunteering is a great way to maintain meaningful social interactions while simultaneously contributing to a cause that you deeply care about.