Protecting Your Brain and Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease
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ore than 5 million people are currently living with Alzheimer’s Disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and that number is expected to rise to 16 million by 2050. While these statistics may be jarring, it is important to remember that prevention is possible.
According to Dr. Glenn Finney, director of aging brain and behavioral neurology at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, “While nothing is 100 percent protective, there are many things you can do to lower your risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s.”
serving per week, using olive oil for cooking, and avoiding high-fat meats are also suggestions provided within the diets’ guidelines. Additional diet suggestions include one glass of wine or four cups of black coffee each day. “One glass of wine has been shown to be good for brain health, but two glasses of wine had no benefits and three or more could actually hurt brain health,” explained
Socialization is extremely important in the process of preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. “We are social beings and our brain thrives on human connection,” shared Dr. Finney. Remaining connected to friends, family or acquaintances can have largely positive effects on brain health. According to Dr. Finney, emerging research suggests that social interaction is good for brain health just as a loved one withdrawing from social interaction may point to dementia. While face-to-face socialization is important, Dr. Finney points out that even building and maintaining relationships online can be very protective. “We now have evidence from a large scale study of prevention, showing that diet can actually reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Finney. The MIND-DASH diets, a combination of Mediterranean and lowcarbohydrate diets, appear to have a largely positive impact on brain health. This diet focuses on eating leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts and lean proteins, while promoting minimal intake of sugars and processed foods. Limiting an intake of cheese to one 128
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Dr. Finney. “Coffee, without added sugar and dairy, may also reduce the risk of dementia.” Physical activity has also shown to be highly beneficial for brain health. “If you want to preserve or improve cognitive function, moderate-level exercise at least three times a week is needed,