Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

A recent MarketWatch article discusses the simple steps that Americans can take to prevent or at least slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. While Alzheimer’s is already a prevalent disease in our country, with about 5.4 million Americans suffering from the disease in 2016, these figures are expected to escalate as our population continues to age. The vast majority of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s are over the age of 65. By 2050, researchers project that about 13.8 million older Americans will have the disease by 2050.

Many studies show that exercise and diet both can go a long way toward preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Even simple changes later in life can have some effect on the progression or incidence of the disease. At a minimum, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommend two and one-half hours per week of moderate exercise. You can meet this goal by walking, bicycling, gardening, and even by doing house or yard work. For those who work in an office, moving away from your desk at least every 30 minutes is essential. This step prevents your body from going into metabolic rest state, which creates oxidative stress and inflammation, conditions that may lead directly to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Using measuring devices such as FitBits can be a good way to measure your physical activity throughout the day. Additionally, reading, playing games, and learning new skills all help in preventing cognitive decline.

Diet also can be a major factor in preventing or slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Mediterranean diets can help prevent not only Alzheimer’s disease, but also heart attacks, stroke, and cancer. This diet includes very limited red meats, a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil. Protein sources should be poultry, fish, and plant-based options, such as beans and nuts.

At Boller & Vaughan, our nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers want to help protect those who can protect themselves the least, including those who have fallen victim to Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. This is why we focus our efforts on protecting these individuals in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. We are skilled at investigating your case and assessing your situation in order to decide whether you have any potential legal claims against the facility that took the neglectful and abusive actions toward your loved one. Don’t hesitate to contact Boller & Vaughan right away and find out how our legal skills can help your family through this difficult situation.