Don’t Smoke
Smoking greatly increases the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s because it damages cells and blood vessels in your brain and drastically reduces circulation to your brain. Smoking also changes the chemical balance within the brain that controls memory and learning functions. According to a study published in The American Journal Of Medicine, people who smoke are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than non-smokers, which concluded that smoking cigarettes accelerates memory loss and is associated with an increased risk of early onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Exercise Your Brain
Cognitive training is an exercise for the brain that involves practicing skills essential to everyday living, such as decision-making and problem-solving. A study showed that cognitive activity might be protective against Alzheimer’s disease by increasing the thickness of your cortex, which acts as a cushion in your brain, protecting you from injury to your brain. This suggests that exercising your brain by learning a new language or musical instrument may help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Cut Down On Alcohol Consumption
In one study, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol increases your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers controlled for other factors such as smoking and education level. They found that consuming more than 30 grams of alcohol a day increased the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by double. It is still unclear whether light to moderate drinking reduces your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, so it’s best to follow national guidelines on safe consumption levels if you are concerned about your dementia risk.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects over 5 million Americans, with an estimated 7.1 million cases by 2025. Alzheimer’s usually starts slowly and worsens progressively, leading to severe cognitive impairment in the late stages of the disease. Although scientists are still unsure how to prevent it, there are still some things that you can do in your daily life to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
