| While it is not yet clear if Alzheimer's can be | | | | consumption of total fat. Fro example, in the United |
| prevented, there is increasing evidence that you can | | | | States, 5 percent of all persons over the age of |
| take specific steps to help reduce your risk of | | | | sixty-five have the disease, while in China and Nigeria, |
| getting Alzheimer's disease. | | | | where the fat intake is much lower, the incidence is |
| Head First | | | | only 1 percent. Japanese who move to America and |
| Good health starts with your brain. It's one of the | | | | double the amount of fat in their diet have twice the |
| body's most vital organs and it needs care and | | | | incidence of Alzheimer's than do those who do not |
| maintenance. | | | | emigrate and presumably maintain their old eating |
| Ongoing mental and physical exercise | | | | habits. |
| Exercise keeps the brain healthy. Either use it or lose | | | | Nicotine |
| it. Regular physical activity increases the blood flow | | | | Nicotine is a prime example of how new research |
| to the brain and provides the nutrients necessary to | | | | data can supersede and negate previously acquired |
| render its tissues resistant to Alzheimer's. Exercise | | | | information. We used to believe that smokers were |
| also increases the number of connections among the | | | | less likely than non-smokers to develop Alzheimer's. |
| millions of brain cells needed for normal mental | | | | But the anti-tobacco community is now breathing |
| function. Get into the habit of walking for thirty or | | | | easier because more recent studies indicate that |
| sixty minutes a day as briskly as possible. Stair | | | | smoking doubles the risk of getting Alzheimer's. |
| climbing is particularly effective, so take the steps | | | | Vitamin E |
| when going up or down one or two flights and leave | | | | Hardly a day does by without some favorable report |
| the elevators and escalators to the kids. | | | | about vitamin E. I can't think of any downside of this |
| Education | | | | vitamin, with the possible exception of its raising |
| Several population studies have shown that the more | | | | blood pressure and causing some extra beats in |
| schooling you have, the greater are your chances | | | | some people. Vitamin E increases fertility in rats; it's |
| against Alzheimer's. That may be because the | | | | good for the heart; and many doctors prescribe it |
| educated are more likely to eat more nutritiously and | | | | for the treatment of vascular disease, particularly for |
| receive better medical care throughout their lives. | | | | narrowing the arteries in the legs. Now comes word |
| However, like physical exercise, ongoing intellectual | | | | that vitamin E may also delay the onset of |
| challenges stimulate the formation of nerve | | | | Alzheimer's, presumably by virtue of its antioxidant |
| connections. Even if you are destined to develop | | | | properties. Antioxidants, of which there are many, |
| Alzheimer's, the more neutrons you develop when | | | | are said to neutralize the harmful effects of free |
| you are young, the more you can afford to lose | | | | radicals, the byproducts of bodily process that |
| before symptoms set in. | | | | involve oxygen. These radicals carry an extra |
| Many retired seniors sign up for classes in accounting, | | | | electron that can damage the protein in the brain and |
| law, art, music, economics, or whatever else interests | | | | other organs and accelerate the aging process. The |
| them to stay mentally active, and not necessarily to | | | | body's own antioxidant normally neutralizes these |
| start a second career. The longer you continue your | | | | free radicals, but this defense can be enhanced by |
| education at any age, or keep your mind busy in | | | | supplemental vitamin E. |
| some other way, the more likely your neurons are to | | | | Hold off on heavy metals |
| connect with each other later on. | | | | Heavy metals such as mercury and lead are known |
| Reduce stress | | | | to cause brain injury that may not be reversible. |
| Chronic stress (as well as anxiety and depression) | | | | Sources of heavy metals include large fish (such as |
| raises your body's production of the adrenal hormone | | | | swordfish, tuna steaks, tilefish, king mackerel, shark, |
| cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been shown to | | | | halibut and mahi-mahi), which are high in mercury and |
| lead to memory impairment and atrophy of memory | | | | "silver" dental fillings. Lead exposure may occur from |
| centers in the brain. Stress reduction techniques such | | | | old paint and some calcium supplements, which have |
| as exercise, meditation, yoga, Tai Chi and | | | | recently found to be contaminated with lead. |
| biofeedback may help to combat chronic stress, | | | | Along the way, neurologists have discovered that the |
| anxiety and depression. | | | | brain is much more adaptable as it ages than they |
| Diet | | | | realized. They have determined that the so-called |
| Eat as little animal fat as possible to reduce your | | | | plasticity of the brain, which allows the formation of |
| vulnerability to Alzheimer's. The incidence of | | | | new neurons as well as new connections between |
| Alzheimer's in different countries correlates with the | | | | those neurons, can last a lifetime. |