BrightStar In-Home Care Shines a Spotlight through the darkness on Good News-- Alzheimer's is largely preventable!
There's a lot of dark news swirling about Alzheimer's disease and during National Alzheimer's month it's important to shed some light on facts that are tough to face.- Today, 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including an estimated 200,000 under the age of 65.
- Someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s every 66 seconds.
- More women than men develop Alzheimer's: nearly two-thirds of those with Alzheimer’s disease – 3.3 million – are women.
- By 2025, in twenty states, there will be a 35 percent or greater growth in Alzheimer’s
But Good News Shines Through these Dark Facts
Top neurologists believe that Alzheimer's Disease is largely preventable. This may be surprising news to even the majority of the people reading this. It goes beyond advances in genetic testing which can accurately predict the level of your susceptibility; there are encouraging revelations from clinical studies that unequivocally document success of preventative measures listed below and others. The National Alzheimer's Association, the NIH, and Mayo Clinic all support a healthy, active lifestyle and diet as preventative steps to be followed. A super advocate of prevention is Demetrius Maraganore, Medical Director, NorthShore Neurological Institute: Chairman of Department of Neurology for the Northshore University HealthSystemWhile the National Alzheimer's Association is focused on and funding efforts toward a cure, Maraganore believes the odds against finding a cure are overwhelming since the Alzheimer's brain has atrophied significantly. Maraganore is an unequivocal believer that preventing this devastating disease is where these organizations and else everyone else should be putting their minds, energy and money.
As part of his proof of its preventability, he points to studies showing the socio-economic nature of the disease and a much higher prevalence among poor and uneducated people who do not eat well and are prone to high obesity levels.
Prevention Steps to Take
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Eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits and lean protein. The Mediterranean diet comes highly recommended not just bny Maraganore, but by the Mayo Clinic (doubt you'll find any "mayo: in it) but you will enjoy the flavor of olive oil a glass of red wine a day. Yes a glass of red wine; white's not right.
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Be a busy bee socially: Spend time with your friends or family at least once a week. Social activity provides some of the best mental stimulation. When you're feeling along, isolated and depressed, get out into the world.
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Take care of your mental health:Engage in mentally-challenging activities (puzzles -- games, reading). If you have no Clue and it Boggles your mind about what game to play, try Sudoku, bridge or chess ; no single game or activity has a Monopoly on brain stimulation.
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Be heads up about concussions. According to a report from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, "Concussion can lead to damage in the white matter of the brain that resembles abnormalities found in people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease." Neurologist Maraganore is so concerned about sports head injuries he will not watch football or hockey --and he is a big fan.
- Avoid smoking, smoking has shown to increase the chance of developing Alzheimer's by 80 percent