A lot of people believe that the genes that make up each person are solely responsible for such health issues as dementia and Alzheimer’s, this is not true. Another aspect that plays a huge role in elevating a person’s chances of having these problems is the lifestyle that they lead. A poor diet, lack of exercise, and various other factors of a person’s lifestyle greatly contribute to the condition of their overall health. Following the 6 steps below can help much more than you might think in reducing your risk of suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Remain Socially Active
Emotional distress that a person often experiences when they spend lengthy period of time refraining from socializing with others raises the risk of Alzheimer’s. This is one of the reasons why it is so important for a person to remain socially active. Studies have shown that many of the effects of Alzheimer’s are less severe in patients that remain active socially.
Remain Physically Active
The function of the brain remains healthy for a much lengthier amount of time when a person remains physically active. This is because the brain receives blood that is rich in oxygen and sugar when a person routinely engages in physical exercise. A few types of exercise that have shown to provide the most benefit include bicycling, walking, and running. Participating in these types of exercises for about 30 minutes each day can go a long ways to ensuring optimum health.
Control Chronic Diseases
To avoid problems with Dementia and Alzheimer’s, it is important to keep health problems like elevated levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure under control. When these issues are not maintained at healthy levels throughout life, it can add to a person’s risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s in later years.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
While it is no secret that being overweight is a problem that can ultimately lead to a wide range of different health problems, many aren’t aware that it is also linked to Alzheimer’s. This disease is much likelier to occur in a person that has spent their life battling the struggles associated with being overweight. When a person is obese, blood vessels within the brain narrow. Over time this can cause a person’s risk for acquiring Alzheimer’s to be much higher.
Eat Healthy
Eating healthy is not only a habit that can keep many different illnesses at bay, but it can also reduce the risk of problems with Alzheimer’s arising. Some suggested food items that have been recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association include planning meals that contain lots of dark-skinned fruits and vegetables. To list a few of these would include such things as eggplants, beets, cherries, spinach, oranges, red bell peppers, red grapes, onions, strawberries, prunes, and blackberries.
Stay Challenged Mentally
A lot of people have heard how important it is to keep the brain stimulated with such activities as word search puzzles and other similar activities. While these can be extremely helpful in keeping the brain healthy, it is just as important to provide your brain with new experiences and information. By doing so, it can be very effective for the generation of new brain cells.