There has been a lot of important information in the press this past January on Alzheimer’s disease: how to recognize the early symptoms; new methods of detection before symptoms start; and, how to cope when a loved one has this most common form of dementia.
If you look the discussions, a common thread is appears: exercise is good for your brain. According to Dr. Jack Diamond, Scientific Director of the Alzheimer Society of Canada, exercise is one of the most documented risk reduction strategies for dementia. Why? It appears to:
- Increase blood flow in the brain.
- Encourage the production of new brain cells.
- Increase the levels of ‘growth factors’ in the brain, which have been shown in animals to promote nerve sprouting and connectivity among brain cells.
- Help to reduce inflammation in the brain (which can contribute to cell sickness).
Food also plays an important role in protecting yourself against the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Diamond recommends a Mediterranean diet of heart-healthy foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, such as salmon and flaxseed oil, brightly-colored fruits and vegetables (high in anti-oxidants, vitamins C, D, and E), turmeric (used in curries) and garlic.
People are living longer, and because Alzheimer’s is generally a disease of aging, the health care system could very well be overwhelmed by an influx of Boomers affected with this terrible disease as they hit 65. So, does lowering the risk of getting Alzheimer’s lie within our control?
We think so. It was even suggested in a recent interview that those who do crossword puzzles to prevent dementia are also exercisers. Could the exercise factor be most important part of this?
Doing as little as 3 hours a week of quality resistance and cardio exercise, as well as eating a healthy, delicious diet, are proven strategies to protect yourself against this disease that robs people of their dreams in their older years. It’s never too late to start – get moving today.
