I am a 60+ year old woman and very afraid of getting Alzheimer's as it was VERY prevalent on both my maternal and paternal sides. At my age, is there really anything I can do to prevent it?
I understand your concern about Alzheimer's given your family history. Currently, there is no guaranteed way to prevent Alzheimer's, but adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits can potentially lower your risk or delay the onset of symptoms. Here are some recommendations from the official website of the US government, :
- 1. Challenge your brain: Learning new skills, volunteering, engaging in new hobbies, reading, and puzzles can all keep the mind active.
- 2. Exercise: Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and can help maintain brain health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
- 3. Healthy Diet: Follow a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- 4. Social Engagement: Social interactions can help maintain mental function, so it’s important to stay connected with others as we age
- 5. Protect hearing/use hearing aids: Hearing loss makes it difficult to interact with others and may be associated with dementia
- 6. Sleep: Poor sleep quality/not enough sleep can increase the risk of cognitive decline. Aim for 7-8 hours but avoid using over the counter medications/supplements for sleep, because there is growing evidence these can increase risk of developing dementia as we age.
- 7. Manage Cardiovascular Health: Conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol can increase the risk of Alzheimer's. Regular check-ups and maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle can help.
- 8. Avoid Smoking and Excessive Alcohol: Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption are risk factors for cognitive decline.
- 9. Manage Stress: Chronic stress can negatively affect brain health. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga can be beneficial.
- 10. Medical check-ups: Regular visits with your doctor will help detect and manage any conditions that might impact brain health.