Prevention of Alzheimer’s: Keys and Tips

Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects millions, but with proper prevention and a focus on natural health, you can reduce the risks. Learn how conscious eating and a healthy lifestyle are essential to keep your brain in shape.

ALZHEIMER’S

The World Health Organization predicts that by the year 2050, the number of people over 80 years of age will almost quadruple to 395 million – and 1 in 6 will live with dementia or Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that in 2015, 5.3 million people in the most industrialized countries were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This number is expected to increase year after year as the proportion of the population over 65 years of age continues to rise. The global cost of Alzheimer’s now amounts to €600 billion per year and is expected to increase even more.

Families are the ones who suffer the most from Alzheimer’s

“Generally, family members are the ones who usually feel the pain of this disease the most because they still retain memories, unlike patients who have already lost them.” The hardest part of considering the possibility of admitting a loved one to a care center away from home is often for the family, leaving them in a place without knowing if they will realize what is happening or if they will feel abandoned. Undoubtedly, this is a very personal decision with multiple factors whose relevance varies in each situation, and each patient is different. Experts report that while it may be difficult for many patients with early dementia to adapt to life in a strange place without their families, many in advanced stages adapt surprisingly well to a place with good care because “they live in a world of memories.” Efforts should be continuously made to improve the quality of life and care for people living with dementia, and this requires becoming aware of prevention. Studies show that loneliness is related to the onset of Alzheimer’s, as is emotional stress.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia or Alzheimer’s Through Diet

Since there is no conventional cure for dementia, the topic of prevention is paramount. As Dr. Perlmutter indicates, evidence points out that various lifestyle factors are underlying causes of dementia, and avoiding fats and consuming excessive carbohydrates are at the epicenter of the disease. The following list of basic nutritional strategies will help you keep your brain healthy as you age: 1.Avoid refined sugar and fructose — Ideally, keep your sugar levels to a minimum, where your total fructose intake is less than 25 grams per day, or up to 15 grams a day if you suffer from insulin or leptin resistance. Avoid all artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, which studies have linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. 2.Avoid gluten and casein (especially wheat and pasteurized dairy, but not milk fat, like butter) — Research has shown that gluten negatively affects your blood-brain barrier and makes your gut more permeable, promoting inflammation and immune dysfunction, both of which are believed to play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. 3.Optimize your gut flora by consuming fermented foods. 4.Increase your intake of healthy fats, such as animal-based omega-3s — Get enough omega-3 fats, such as those found in wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, and krill oil, which help protect your brain. 5.Reduce your total calorie intake or practice intermittent fasting — Intermittent fasting is a powerful tool that encourages your body to remember how to burn fat and repair insulin or leptin resistance, which is a major factor in the development of Alzheimer’s. 6.Improve your magnesium level — Preliminary research suggests that increasing magnesium levels in the brain may lead to a reduction in Alzheimer’s symptoms. Unfortunately, most magnesium supplements do not cross the blood-brain barrier, but it appears that magnesium threonate can cross it, making it superior to other forms. 7.Maintain a nutritious diet rich in folate and zinc — Fresh vegetables are the best source of folate. Avoid taking a folic acid supplement, which is the inferior and synthetic version of folate. Research suggests that zinc deficiency may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease by promoting the accumulation of defective proteins in the brain, which is one of the characteristics of this disease. 8.Avoid toxins and environmental chemicals as much as possible — The increase in the disease