Can we prevent Alzheimer's disease?

Have you ever noticed that an elderly person in your family, perhaps your beloved grandmother or aunt, forgets little things? They suddenly forget where their keys are, a person's name, or what they wanted to say. While we think that these things are normal as we get older, sometimes this can be the beginning of something more serious, namely Alzheimer's Disease . Today we will talk about this disease that scares many people and gradually destroys their memory, and what we can do to protect ourselves as much as possible from it.

What exactly is Alzheimer's disease?

Simply put, Alzheimer's is a disease in which our brain cells gradually die, causing a gradual loss of memory, thinking ability, and the ability to perform daily tasks. The important thing is that this is not a normal part of aging . Not everyone who gets older develops this disease.

Doctors still don't have 100 percent definitive answers to the questions of why someone develops this disease, why it gets worse over time, or why there is still no definitive cure for it. But one thing is clear. It is affected by things we can control as well as things we can.

• Things we can't control: Aging, as well as some things in our genes, we can't change. If someone in our family has had the disease, we may also be at risk.
• Controllable factors: This is the most important part. By making changes to our lifestyle, diet, and exercise habits, we can significantly reduce our risk of developing this disease.

Should we keep our numbers accurate?

"Numbers" refers to several important measurements of your body's health. That is, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Do you know if these are high? Research has found a strong link between conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes, and heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Many people don't even know they have these conditions. That's why it's important to see your family doctor regularly for these tests. Then, if there's a problem, you can start treatment right away.

Let's take care of our body weight.

Obesity is another risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. One study found that being overweight can negatively impact brain function. So if you have some weight to lose, it's important to think about it and try to lose weight in a healthy way and maintain it.

Exercise your body and brain.

Physical exercise: When you exercise, blood flow increases to both your body and your brain. This increased blood flow helps keep your brain healthy by providing the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly. Try to do some form of exercise that you enjoy, such as walking, running, or swimming, for at least 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week .

Mental exercise: Challenging your brain, just like your body, is very important. Instead of staying in the same place all the time, learn something new, and train your brain to think.

• Try learning a new language.
• Fill in the blanks with crossword puzzles and Sudoku.
• Read books.
• Talk to friends and family, be social. This mental stimulation is like a brain workout.

Don't forget to think about safety too.

Take care of your head.

You might wonder what the connection is between a head injury and Alzheimer's. But serious head injuries increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's years later. Think about the damage that can happen if you fall off a bike without a helmet, or if you hit your head in a car accident. So always think about safety.

Also, be aware of potential hazards inside your home. Slippery tiles and loose rugs can increase the risk of falling. Paying attention to these small things can go a long way toward preventing a major accident.

Avoid smoking completely.

Smoking is harmful to almost every organ in the body. It also directly affects brain health. Therefore, stay away from all tobacco products completely.

Make your plate brain-friendly

A heart-healthy diet is also very good for the brain. Try to fill your plate with these foods:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables: The antioxidants in these protect brain cells.
• Whole grains: Things like brown rice, buckwheat, and oats.
• Low-fat proteins: fish, chicken, nuts, and legumes.
• Low-fat dairy products.

Also, limit these things as much as possible:

• Saturated fat: Fat found in meat, sausage, butter, and high-fat dairy products.
• Artificially added sugar: things like sweetened drinks, cakes, and biscuits.
• Salt (Sodium) and alcohol (Alcohol).

If you start making these lifestyle changes little by little today, it will be a great investment in your future brain health.

Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's Disease, Memory Loss, Brain Health, Aging, Preventive Health, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cholesterol