| If you want to stay sharp and in control of your life | | | | 2. Supplement where necessary. Many diets lack the |
| well into your golden years, there are proactive | | | | nutrients proven to promote brain health. These include |
| methods to achieving the mental alertness you need. | | | | sources of essential fatty acids found in fish and |
| More and more research is pointing to the fact that | | | | specific herbs and minerals that can enhance cognitive |
| physical activity and lifestyle choices have more to do | | | | function. |
| with preventing Alzheimer s disease (AD) and other | | | | 3. Exercise. Originally it was thought that exercise |
| forms of dementia - once thought to be a normal part | | | | increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain cells. |
| of aging - than pure genetics. So if you had a parent, | | | | This is still true, but a report prepared for the National |
| grandparent or sibling with AD it doesn't mean you | | | | Institutes of Health states that exercise can also |
| have to follow the same path. | | | | stimulate the production growth factors, which are |
| Statistics gathered from extensive research do point | | | | molecules produced by the body to repair and maintain |
| toward a higher risk of developing AD if you had a | | | | nerves. |
| close relative with AD - as much as 50%, but that has | | | | 4. Lower Your Cholesterol. Many people with early |
| less to do with genes and more to do with following | | | | dementia or AD symptoms may have actually |
| their lifestyle patterns. If for example, your parents | | | | experienced small strokes that damaged the brain's |
| were smokers who rarely exercised, you may have | | | | neurotransmitters. By keeping cholesterol levels in |
| developed some of the same destructive habits. | | | | check, the arteries are free and clear of plaque that |
| What can you do to break the cycle and prevent AD? | | | | can cause stroke. |
| Take action and take control today. Even if you are in | | | | 5. Do your Mental Exercises. Keeping up with current |
| your 60s or 70s you can reverse some of the | | | | events, working puzzles each day, learning and |
| damage done to your brain through poor diet, inactivity, | | | | memorizing new information all work to keeping a mind |
| or damaging lifestyle choices. Scientists have | | | | strong and alert. It is normal for people to sometimes |
| discovered very recently that the brain has the ability | | | | forget a name or date, but the more practice recalling |
| to repair cells and neurotransmitters and improve | | | | such information the greater the brain's ability to do this |
| cognitive function and memory. | | | | throughout old age. In the case of mental challenges, |
| It's Not Too Late to Make A Difference: Start the 5 | | | | the more you do the more you can push back the |
| Steps Today | | | | clock on cognitive decline. |
| 1. Eat Right. It seems so simple, yet too many people | | | | Five easy steps, when you think about it, can do much |
| just don't get enough of the mind preserving | | | | to make aging an event to celebrate instead of dread. |
| antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables. A | | | | With age there comes experience and wisdom, and |
| well-balanced diet, free of diary products and using low | | | | we should all do whatever is within our power to be |
| fat sources of protein will protect both heart and mind. | | | | able to pass that on to the next generation. |