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