| Alzheimer's disease is a condition affecting up to 4.5 | | | | can do to help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's. |
| million Americans. While there is no known cure, | | | | Many of these prevention techniques involve |
| studies have been conducted that indicate there may | | | | limbering the mind and working on memory skills long |
| be ways of preventing the onset of Alzheimer's | | | | before Alzheimer's onset is a danger. Just having a |
| disease. | | | | mentally stimulating job that involves creative thinking |
| The disease is characterized by symptoms such as | | | | or manipulation of data is shown to have a |
| forgetfulness, memory loss, and reduced ability to | | | | connection to lower incidence of Alzheimer's later in |
| concentrate, and in later stages the sufferer may | | | | life. Doing crossword puzzles and playing card games |
| display anxiety and delusions, loss of speech and | | | | were found to have a significant positive impact on |
| inability to sit up or walk. It is a slow disease with | | | | later mental dexterity. Employ memorization |
| symptoms manifesting and worsening over the | | | | techniques used by actors. Actors don't merely |
| period of many years. | | | | memorize a series of words. They also combine |
| The now famous, groundbreaking "nun study" went a | | | | appropriate movements, and evaluate the intent |
| long way toward identifying characteristics that would | | | | behind the words to be delivered. This |
| indicate the likelihood of Alzheimer's onset later in life. | | | | "active-experiencing" method of memorization was |
| 100 nuns have been studied over a period of fifteen | | | | shown to also improve the memory and cognitive |
| years, beginning in 1991. Over the course of those | | | | skills in older people who were taught the technique. |
| years, their genes have been tested and analyzed, | | | | Limbering your mind now may promote a limber mind |
| physical balance and strength charted, and cognitive | | | | in your latter years. |
| tests run to determine how many words the women | | | | Proper diet and exercise promote good health in |
| could remember several minutes after reading them, | | | | general and may ward off countless problems |
| how many animals they could name in a minute, and | | | | including Alzheimer's onset. The addition of fish oils, |
| if they could correctly count coins. The research | | | | Vitamin E, and Vitamin C to the diet have all shown |
| shows that people who scored lower on cognitive | | | | to contribute to a lower incidence of Alzheimer's. |
| ability tests when young were more likely to develop | | | | Keeping cholesterol at a healthy level prevents |
| Alzheimer's later in life. Early cognitive ability was | | | | build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain - a |
| measured based on writings done by the nuns while | | | | characteristic in Alzheimer's. Finally, physical activity |
| in their early 20's. Those showing more "idea density" | | | | has been shown to prevent deposits in the brain that |
| - the number of ideas expressed in the fewest | | | | are associated with Alzheimer's disease. |
| number of words - and better linguistic and grammar | | | | Exercise your mind and body, and make good |
| skills had a much lower incidence of Alzheimer's later | | | | lifestyle choices, as the only "cure" for Alzheimer's as |
| in life. Scientists are of the opinion that good | | | | yet, is prevention. While there is believed to be a |
| cognitive skills early on creates a sort of | | | | genetic component which would predispose someone |
| "neurocognitive reserve" which will be drawn on later, | | | | to the risk of Alzheimer's, awareness, early planning |
| effectively preventing Alzheimer's. Exercising and | | | | and mental exercise, and smart dietary choices may |
| improving cognitive skills via writing, reading and | | | | aid to reduce your likelihood of developing this |
| learning - anything that stimulates the brain - may go | | | | mysterious and debilitating disease. A healthy mind |
| a long way toward active, clearheaded and graceful | | | | and a healthy body now will make for a healthy mind |
| aging. | | | | and body later. |
| There are a number of other things, as well, that you | | | | |