World Alzheimer s Month
Alzheimer's disease - Prevention
As the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown, there's no way to prevent the condition. However, there are steps you can take that may help to delay the onset of dementia.
Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease has been linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
You may be able to reduce your risk of developing these conditions – as well as other serious problems, such as strokes and heart attacks – by taking steps to improve your cardiovascular
health, including:
stopping smoking
not drinking large amounts of alcohol
eating a healthy, balanced diet, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day
exercising for at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) every week by doing moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as cycling or fast walking) – this will improve both your physical and mental health
make sure your blood pressure is checked and controlled through regular health tests
if you have diabetes, make sure you keep to the diet and take your medication
Staying mentally active
There's some evidence to suggest that rates of dementia are lower in people who remain as mentally, physically and socially active as possible throughout their lives, as well as among those who enjoy a wide range of different activities and hobbies.
It may be possible to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia by:
reading
writing for pleasure
learning foreign languages
playing musical instruments
taking part in adult education courses
playing tennis
playing golf
swimming
group sports, such as bowling or Aerobics classes
walking
Interventions such as "brain training" computer games have been shown to improve cognition over a short period, but research hasn't yet demonstrated whether this can prevent dementia.
