Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia that constitutes about 90 percent of the cases of dementia in the US population. Twenty-four million people across the globe suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and this number is going to be 4 times greater by 2050. Yes, this is a scary statistic. However, there are steps you can take to keep this progressive neurologic disease at bay. Alzheimer’s isn’t an inevitable consequence of growing old. Certain lifestyle factors increase or may reduce an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease mainly affects the older adults, however, early onset Alzheimer’s does occur. The biggest risk factors that increase one’s risk include family history, previous medical history, and a pre-existing brain injury. Besides memory loss, Alzheimer’s can also lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s:

If you believe you or a loved one are at a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to know about the symptoms and signs to recognize it early on and slow the progression of the disease. Watch out for the following signs and symptoms:

1.      Increased memory loss (interfering with one’s ability to perform daily tasks)

2.      Increased confusion (about places or timing)

3.      Difficulty with problem solving

4.      Poor judgment leading to bad decisions

5.      Mood and personality changes

6.      Misplacing things more frequently

7.      A decline in social and professional life

8.      Difficulty recognizing visual images

9.      Not being able to recall certain words

Although there is currently no cure to Alzheimer’s disease, there are preventative measures individuals can take to prevent the condition from developing, including exercising regularly (cardiovascular exercise in particular), eating a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats and processed sugar, maintaining a healthy social life, taking necessary precautions to minimize the chance of head trauma, for example, wearing helmets, wearing seat belt, etc., and lastly, keeping the brain active by learning a new language, learning a new instrument, etc.

Role of exercise in keeping Alzheimer’s disease at bay:

Besides the many known benefits of exercise, including reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes, reducing stress, making the bones and muscles stronger, regular physical activity also appears to benefit the brain. According to studies, people who are physically active are less likely to experience a cognitive decline (regular exercise is associated with an increase in cognitive functioning), have a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and possibly have improved thinking among people with vascular cognitive impairment. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends older adults to perform at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week, which can significantly lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other brain degenerative diseases.

Making sure to stay physically active keeps thinking, reasoning and learning skills sharp for healthy people, improves memory, reasoning and thinking skills for people with mild Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment, and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s for people at risk of developing the disease or slow the progress of the disease.