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9 Habits To Adopt To Prevent Alzheimer's Disease And Dementia

9 Habits To Adopt To Prevent Alzheimer's Disease And Dementia

Alzheimer's disease is defined clinically by a dominance of memory disorders, as well as the attainment of intellectual and linguistic abilities. This set of symptoms reflects the growing development of dementia. Following a progressive installation of these warning signs, daily gestures become more difficult to perform, punctuated with praxic (gestures), gnosic (identification) and phasic (language) disorders. Although risk factors are not always controllable, especially when they are genetic and hereditary, there are still ways of prevention that, according to The Alzheimer Association, could reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Prevent Alzheimer

To date, there is still no drug capable of curing Alzheimer's disease, although some treatments can reduce the symptoms. The speed of cognitive decline is, moreover, variable depending on the individual affected. According to the American Psychiatric Association, it first begins with minor cognitive impairment, characterized by a modest decline, before affecting the autonomy of the person, giving rise to major cognitive impairment. On the medical level, it is the latter that we associate with dementia.

According to the WHO, Alzheimer's disease is responsible for nearly 70% of cases of dementia. Often associated with aging, it is not an immutable consequence. Many risk factors are associated with lifestyle, including high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and unhealthy eating. Angela Geiger, Director of Strategy for The Alzheimer Association, explains the importance of adopting healthy habits to prevent risks, which must be related to the well-being of the body, but also of the brain. Here are 8 to follow which, according to the association, would be beneficial to cognitive functions:

1- Exercise
Physical activity beneficial to your cardiovascular health is also good for your brain. By increasing the blood flow in the body, it allows you to properly irrigate the brain area to prevent its decline. According to a scientific article, exercise would be particularly recommended to preserve cognitive functions in old age.

2- Read more
Education is essential to use your brain, stimulate it and thus prevent the risk of dementia. According to Inserm, this would be a cognitive reserve whose constitution would depend essentially on the level of education and intellectual stimulation, among other factors.

3- Stop cigarette
Likely to cause carcinogenic, cardiovascular and respiratory effects, the cigarette would be in addition to that, an aggravating factor of Alzheimer's disease. According to a report published by the WHO, smoking is one of the parameters likely to increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.

4- Protect your cardiovascular health
According to Seth Martins, a cardiologist and associate director at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, cardiovascular risk factors are thought to be closely linked to brain health. For the expert, it is mainly to change the lifestyle through healthy habits to preserve the heart and brain.

5- Eat healthily
It is no surprise that a healthy diet is part of the preventive list related to cognitive decline. This is the pillar of our health and can therefore lead to more or less serious risks depending on what it contains. According to the American association, it is essential to reduce bad fats and favor the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Scientists confirm, a diet rich in vitamins, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids (olive oil, salmon, etc.) would be a first preventive step essential to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's.

6- Get enough sleep
Although the causal link has not been established, Professor Damien Léger, president of the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance reminds Le Figaro that sleep plays a major role in "promoting or disrupting cognitive functions", thus affecting memory and attention.

7- Preserve your social life
It is important to surround yourself and develop your social relationships. Whether it's community activities, volunteering, or time spent with loved ones, regular contact with others is a healthy way to stimulate your brain through the exchange.

8- Train your brain
Like any other member of your body who may become stiff with lack of movement, the brain also needs training to maintain optimal functioning. Through games of attention, memory or reflection, a study confirms that cognitive functions could be improved.