Prevention is Key

Although there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, you CAN adopt lifestyle choices that can help you reduce your risk of developing it.  We call these the 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention^TM.

1. Diet and Supplements – One of the best ways you can feed your brain for better memory is by adopting a Mediterranean-type diet.  Eating foods that are high in antioxidants like vitamins C and E, is a wonderful natural way to eliminate free radicals from your body. Other healthy foods are the vast array of fruits and vegetables available and eating fish rich in omega-3 oils. Click here for more on this Pillar.  Click here to find out how to receive The 4 Best Recipes for Your Brain.
2. Stress Management – research has shown that the benefits of regular stress-relaxation practice, such as meditation, can improve your health and prevent memory loss. Because it reduces some of the negative impacts of cholesterol, cortisol, and high blood pressure, a stress-relaxation practice also has the added benefits of improving your focus, attention, and optimizing your overall mental performance.  For more on this Pillar, click here.
3. Exercise and Brain Aerobics – To see the most benefits of your exercise program, the latest research reveals that the magic number for maintaining cognitive fitness with age and preventing Alzheimer’s is to work up to a level of 150 minutes per week of a combination of cardio exercise and strength training. Mental exercise can also reduce your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease by up to 70%. Spend at least 20 minutes, three times a week doing mental exercises that: engage your attention, involve more than one of your senses, and break a routine activity in an unexpected, nontrivial way. Great examples are reading, writing, playing board games, and doing crossword puzzles. For more on this Pillar, click here.
4. Medicine – There may be a place for the use of pharmaceutical medications as part of an integrative medical program to treat and even prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Current medicines to treat Alzheimer’s may improve symptoms in some patients but have no effect on the progression of the disease. There is a push toward discovering if new beta amyloid removal drugs will prevent Alzheimer’s or provide a treatment. The answers are years away, however. Of course, these medications should only be taken under the care of a physician who is an expert in treating Alzheimer’s disease. It is important that you always work closely with your doctor concerning pharmaceutical use. For more on this Pillar, click here.