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As research is seeking to uncover the causes of and cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it is also helping to inform us about what can be done to reduce the risk factors associated with the disease.
While genetics and age are uncontrollable risk factors, there are ways to maintain or improve brain health in order to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Here are a few activities that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine so that you can get started on improving your brain health today:
Get moving. Exercise is one of the most documented risk reduction strategies for dementia and appears to provide a protective factor, in part by increasing blood flow in the brain, encouraging the production of new brain cells and helping to reduce brain inflammation.
Even moderate physical activity can make a difference - check with your doctor about the kinds of activities that might be right for you.
Be interactive. Social interaction appears to have a protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease. A number of research studies have shown that people who regularly interact with others maintain their brain function better than those who don’t.
Combining social interaction with physical activity is even better – so try walking with a friend or participating in a group fitness class.
Eat responsibly. Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity are all risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. There is solid evidence from animal studies that a rigorously controlled caloric restricted diet dramatically slows the aging process.
Although researchers are still trying to understand how these findings can be applied to humans, it is important to keep your food portions reasonable and don’t super-size it!
Break out of your routine. Try taking a different route to the store, change the order of your morning routine or simply brush your teeth with your less dominant hand.
Research shows that building new connections between brain cells (neural pathways) is key to maintaining brain health. When you do the same things in new ways or learn a new skill, you’re actually creating new pathways in your brain helping it to be more resilient to later chemical or physical changes.
The Alzheimer Society of B.C. offers brain health workshops throughout the province. Visit the In My Community section of our website to learn about upcoming workshops in your area.
