| It's almost become a joke. Forget the word you | | | | cells is fish. The omega-3 fatty acids that are found |
| wanted to use and joke 'Must be early Alzheimer's.' | | | | in high concentrations in cold-water fish like tuna and |
| Lose track of where you left your keys? "Doh! | | | | salmon, as well as in shellfish, are an important |
| Guess I'm getting Alzheimer's." Alzheimer's Disease is | | | | ingredient in building neural pathways that function |
| no joking matter, though, and we know it even | | | | properly. Nutritionists suggest including a source of |
| under the casual, joking jabs at our own memory | | | | omega-3 fatty acids in your diet at least three times |
| problems. I suspect that more than one of us, when | | | | a week. Tuna casserole, anyone? |
| those occasional lapses of memory happen, wonder | | | | -- Get social! |
| if we really ARE starting to lose our memories to one | | | | In a study of over 2,500 men, those who had the |
| of the most baffling and devastating diseases we | | | | least contact with friends and family were nearly 3 |
| know. | | | | times as likely to develop dementia as those who |
| According to the Center for Disease Control | | | | had more active social lives. Social activity and |
| statistics, 20% of adults who are in nursing homes | | | | maintaining family and social ties seem to stimulate |
| have a primary diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - | | | | the brain cells and keep them from atrophying. |
| over 214,000 people. For many of us who are | | | | When's the last time you had coffee with your sister, |
| approaching the far side of middle age, that's a | | | | hm? |
| frightening statistic. Those jokes have the air of | | | | -- Exercise your brain. |
| gallows humor. There is good news on the | | | | Recent studies strongly suggest that elderly people - |
| Alzheimer's front. Research into risk factors and | | | | including those with Alzheimer's Disease, can improve |
| predisposition have turned up some interesting | | | | their memories with practice. Researcher suggest |
| correlations between general health, social well-being | | | | that activities like crossword puzzles, memory games |
| and Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association | | | | and challenging mental activities could help the brain |
| has some suggestions that may help lower your risk | | | | create new neural pathways as old brain cells die off. |
| of developing Alzheimer's Disease, and even slow its | | | | Get out the word-search books and have some |
| progression among those who have already started | | | | mental fun! |
| showing symptoms. | | | | -- Stay physically active. |
| -- Eat your fruits and veggies. | | | | In one study of almost 500 adult children of parents |
| Mother always told you to eat all your veggies, and | | | | with Alzheimer's Disease, researchers found that |
| this is one more good reason. In one study of over | | | | those who exercised regularly scored better on |
| 1,800 elderly men and women, researchers found | | | | memory and problem solving tasks than those who |
| that those who drank fruit or vegetable juice at least | | | | were sedentary. It may be that exercise, which |
| three times a week had a 75% less risk of | | | | promotes healthy circulation and gets the blood |
| developing Alzheimer's than those who drank less | | | | flowing through your entire body, helps nourish the |
| than one glass per week. Why? | | | | brain by getting more nutrients to it on a regular |
| The answer probably lies in the effects of | | | | basis. Take a walk or take up swimming - or join a |
| antioxidants. Fruit juices - especially berry juices - are | | | | fitness group to combine social AND physical activities |
| among the highest sources of antioxidants around. | | | | in one. |
| Dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, berries and | | | | The bottom line? Doctors and researchers aren't sure |
| citrus juices are all up there as excellent sources of | | | | what causes it, so there's no surefire way to |
| antioxidant goodness. Get out the juicer and drink up! | | | | prevent Alzheimer's Disease from developing. They |
| -- Eat a healthy, balanced diet - and don't forget your | | | | do know that people who share certain traits are |
| fats. | | | | much less likely to develop the symptoms though. |
| A healthy diet is basic to a healthy brain. Whole | | | | Stay fit, get active, get out with your friends often |
| grains, vegetables and fruits should be your major | | | | and do what you can to enjoy your life. As a |
| source of calories, but doctors are starting to take a | | | | prescription for preventing Alzheimer's disease, it |
| closer look at fats again. One source of fat that | | | | sounds like a great way to live! |
| appears to be vital to rebuilding and maintaining brain | | | | |