Alzheimer’s usually occurs in people aged 65 and older. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for the disease.
While there’s no way to predict whether or not you will be touched by Alzheimer’s, there are steps people of all ages can take to keep their brains sharp and ward off this debilitating disease.
5 Ways to Ward Off Alzheimer’s Disease
- Learn A New Language
Taking a class to learn a new language can have a great impact on your brain. The brain is a lot like a muscle—you have to exercise it in order to keep it strong and prevent atrophy. By challenging yourself to learn a foreign language, you are making the brain stronger by improving cognitive skills and overall function. The increased neural activity protects your brain against aging.
- Read Everyday
Aside from providing a great source of entertainment, committing to a regular
reading routine can have great brain-boosting benefits. It helps to increase intelligence, improve memory function and ward off Alzheimer’s disease. An active brain is the first line of defense against dementia.
- Mind Your Diet
Eating a healthy diet composed mainly of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and omega-3 filled fish has been linked to better brain health. Studies on the Mediterranean Diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, whole grains and fish, have found it helps to slow cognitive decline in older adults and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Five Star Signature Dining program features many Mediterranean-inspired dishes that can help you not only feel your best physically, but mentally as well.
- Tackle The Crossword Puzzle
While the science behind crossword puzzles has not been definitively linked to warding off Alzheimer’s disease, most researchers agree that remaining intellectually stimulated and engaged helps to improve brain function as you age.
A study published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest found that older adults who “engaged in more frequent cognitive activity experienced a reduced rate of cognitive decline.” A regular crossword or Sudoku puzzle habit is a fun way to keep your brain engaged on a regular basis.
- Take More Walks
Increased physical activity has also been linked to lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease. The good news is that you don’t have to be a CrossFit junkie in order to reap the benefits. Simply increasing your walking routine, in both frequency and duration, can have a big impact on brain health.
A recent study examined the effects of physical activity on over 5,000 women over the age of 65. Researchers found that the most active women in the group lowered their risk of dementia by 30 percent. It was also noted that the distance walked had more of an impact on brain health than the speed at which the women were walking. This is promising, especially since almost two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women.
While it may be impossible to completely prevent yourself or an aging loved one from developing Alzheimer’s disease, incorporating some of these tips into your life may at least slow the progression.
At Five Star, we are committed to helping all of our residents live their best lives. We know the ideal way to do that is to incorporate good habits into your life.
