| While it is not yet clear if Alzheimer's can | | | | countries correlates with the consumption of |
| be prevented, there is increasing evidence | | | | total fat. Fro example, in the United States, |
| that you can take specific steps to help | | | | 5 percent of all persons over the age of |
| reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer's | | | | sixty-five have the disease, while in China |
| disease. | | | | and Nigeria, where the fat intake is much |
| | | | lower, the incidence is only 1 percent. |
| Head First | | | | Japanese who move to America and double the |
| | | | amount of fat in their diet have twice the |
| Good health starts with your brain. It's one | | | | incidence of Alzheimer's than do those who do |
| of the body's most vital organs and it needs | | | | not emigrate and presumably maintain their |
| care and maintenance. | | | | old eating habits. |
| | | | |
| Ongoing mental and physical exercise | | | | Nicotine |
| | | | |
| Exercise keeps the brain healthy. Either use | | | | Nicotine is a prime example of how new |
| it or lose it. Regular physical activity | | | | research data can supersede and negate |
| increases the blood flow to the brain and | | | | previously acquired information. We used to |
| provides the nutrients necessary to render | | | | believe that smokers were less likely than |
| its tissues resistant to Alzheimer's. | | | | non-smokers to develop Alzheimer's. But the |
| Exercise also increases the number of | | | | anti-tobacco community is now breathing |
| connections among the millions of brain cells | | | | easier because more recent studies indicate |
| needed for normal mental function. Get into | | | | that smoking doubles the risk of getting |
| the habit of walking for thirty or sixty | | | | Alzheimer's. |
| minutes a day as briskly as possible. Stair | | | | |
| climbing is particularly effective, so take | | | | Vitamin E |
| the steps when going up or down one or two | | | | |
| flights and leave the elevators and | | | | Hardly a day does by without some favorable |
| escalators to the kids. | | | | report about vitamin E. I can't think of any |
| | | | downside of this vitamin, with the possible |
| Education | | | | exception of its raising blood pressure and |
| | | | causing some extra beats in some people. |
| Several population studies have shown that | | | | Vitamin E increases fertility in rats; it's |
| the more schooling you have, the greater are | | | | good for the heart; and many doctors |
| your chances against Alzheimer's. That may be | | | | prescribe it for the treatment of vascular |
| because the educated are more likely to eat | | | | disease, particularly for narrowing the |
| more nutritiously and receive better medical | | | | arteries in the legs. Now comes word that |
| care throughout their lives. However, like | | | | vitamin E may also delay the onset of |
| physical exercise, ongoing intellectual | | | | Alzheimer's, presumably by virtue of its |
| challenges stimulate the formation of nerve | | | | antioxidant properties. Antioxidants, of |
| connections. Even if you are destined to | | | | which there are many, are said to neutralize |
| develop Alzheimer's, the more neutrons you | | | | the harmful effects of free radicals, the |
| develop when you are young, the more you can | | | | byproducts of bodily process that involve |
| afford to lose before symptoms set in. | | | | oxygen. These radicals carry an extra |
| | | | electron that can damage the protein in the |
| Many retired seniors sign up for classes in | | | | brain and other organs and accelerate the |
| accounting, law, art, music, economics, or | | | | aging process. The body's own antioxidant |
| whatever else interests them to stay mentally | | | | normally neutralizes these free radicals, but |
| active, and not necessarily to start a second | | | | this defense can be enhanced by supplemental |
| career. The longer you continue your | | | | vitamin E. |
| education at any age, or keep your mind busy | | | | |
| in some other way, the more likely your | | | | Hold off on heavy metals |
| neurons are to connect with each other later | | | | |
| on. | | | | Heavy metals such as mercury and lead are |
| | | | known to cause brain injury that may not be |
| Reduce stress | | | | reversible. Sources of heavy metals include |
| | | | large fish (such as swordfish, tuna steaks, |
| Chronic stress (as well as anxiety and | | | | tilefish, king mackerel, shark, halibut and |
| depression) raises your body's production of | | | | mahi-mahi), which are high in mercury and |
| the adrenal hormone cortisol. High levels of | | | | "silver" dental fillings. Lead exposure may |
| cortisol have been shown to lead to memory | | | | occur from old paint and some calcium |
| impairment and atrophy of memory centers in | | | | supplements, which have recently found to be |
| the brain. Stress reduction techniques such | | | | contaminated with lead. |
| as exercise, meditation, yoga, Tai Chi and | | | | |
| biofeedback may help to combat chronic | | | | Along the way, neurologists have discovered |
| stress, anxiety and depression. | | | | that the brain is much more adaptable as it |
| | | | ages than they realized. They have determined |
| Diet | | | | that the so-called plasticity of the brain, |
| | | | which allows the formation of new neurons as |
| Eat as little animal fat as possible to | | | | well as new connections between those |
| reduce your vulnerability to Alzheimer's. The | | | | neurons, can last a lifetime. |
| incidence of Alzheimer's in different | | | | |