Best practices in your 20’s to avoid Alzheimer’s
disease in your 70’s
As per studies, 1 in 9 people ages 65 or older have
Alzheimer’s disease. And before it ruins your life you got to get that devil as
early as in your 20’s. Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia is a neurological
disorder, that gradually destroys memories and minimal thinking abilities, as
the brain gets older.
Unfortunately, is a genetic disorder, so you can keep
tabs on it at a very young age. But habits take their sweet time to form. Why
not start as early as possible? So, if you too are avoiding the condition and
much rather prefer to lead a healthy, long life. Here are some practices, you
need to start today to avoid the disease having a harmful grab on you.
Pay attention to your diet chart
Though Alzheimer’s disease is a genetic disorder and
would pass on to the next generation. The condition can still be triggered
early or delayed later by your diet. Decreasing the sugar intake and
cholesterol can create a long-term delay in the effect of the disease.
But not every food can cause magic. However, the
Mediterranean diet has been scientifically proven to ensure a reduction in the
risk of Alzheimer's. What does Mediterranean Diet contain? It mainly
constitutes of whole grains, Vegetables, Legumes, Fruits, Dry Fruits, Seeds,
Herbs and Spices.
You can tweak your regular meal accordingly as well.
Try to add Olive Oil instead of any other vegetable oil. Avoid snacking during
late hours and make Caesar’s Salad your staple choice when you go out. Fish,
Red Meat and Eggs can also be your warrior against the disease.
Don’t miss on physical exercise
When was the last time you stretched? No, when it
comes to preventing the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, you need not go for
those sweaty hours in the gym and grow your muscles. But a habit of doing
minimal exercise can go long term. Just 15 minutes regularly can cause a big
difference.
I know when you open your eyes to tons of emails that
have deadlines pending and requests to fulfil. It can be extremely difficult to
get 15 minutes regularly. It would be impossible for you if you have a field
job and are incapable of sticking to a schedule.
But a slight adjustment in your habits can go a long
way. It would also help you with your mindset. Taking the stairs instead of an
elevator or walking a few blocks during that coffee break with your colleagues
would make a difference.
Quit smoking immediately
Yeah, you thought about it a thousand times. But the
stress that comes with everyday work always pushes you to get that one stick
out. You just inhale it and get back. But it happens all over again and since
then it has been your toxic mate.
But just one every day, in the long term can weaken
your neurons that they would be beyond repair. The oxygenated air that gets
taken into the brain, if filled with toxins from cigarettes would weaken the
nerves of the brain. And it has been scientifically observed.
So, if you have a genetic history of Alzheimer, it
would be best for you to get rid of smoking immediately. And adapt to a healthy
snack. Vapes too, have proven to cause a similar effect in the brain. So, if
you are thinking of adapting to a trendy, lifestyle change, think again.
Resist too much alcohol
One glass of your favourite red wine with dinner is fine.
A bubbling, flute glass of champagne on the weekend at the meeting would not be
bad either. But doubling that down with a glass of whisky. Or compensating for
those lonely sessions at the bar with a tumbler of beer regularly won’t help
your health.
It has been observed by the Alzheimer’s Society in a
study, that a minimal amount of Alcohol consumption might not make a
difference. But a good amount of alcohol for long periods can cause a
significant effect on your condition. Not only it can increase the risk of
dementia but it also leads to nerve damage way faster than expected.
Close attention to Cognitive Learning
Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia is a disorder of
Cognitive Learning. Hence, to avoid it, you must not only pay attention to your
learning abilities but also try to pay closer attention to cognitive learning.
What is Cognitive Learning? It is a change in
knowledge through experiences. You may have a lot of lessons in life. But if
you indulge in a lot of, varied experiences, it would lead to the
re-structuring of your neurons and also lead to the strengthening of those
brain nerves that are susceptible in the dementia cause situations.
When it comes to preparing your brain against
dementia. The idea of the more you challenge your brain, the less likely you
will experience cognitive impairment is strongly emphasized. These challenges
can range from regularly indulging in the game of chess to taking a long hike
through your closest National Park.
Hold onto reading and Writing
There is no other brain exercise like reading and
writing. According to Rita Carter, an author, Science Writer and broadcaster,
reading regularly can cause significant effects on your brain’s neurological
mapping.
It can cause an effect that can not only delay the
signs of dementia but can also reverse its effects for a substantial amount of
time. Especially reading fiction can make you feel emotions from multiple
perspectives that can not only help you become more emphatic in your life. But
it would also help in effectively connecting the senses in the two hemispheres
of the brain.
Similarly, writing and journalling will not only help
you jot down your emotions. But it would help you get in touch with significant
points. It would assist you in putting things into perspective and also help in
the strengthening of the brain cells.
Living an Organised Life
When you forget where you parked your car in the huge
parking lot is a common phenomenon. Or losing your car keys before rushing to
that meeting is also no big deal. But forgetting how to drive a car or where to
plug the keys in the car while you have been driving for a decade now are some
initial symptoms of Dementia and you would never want to imagine yourself in
that position.
What to do about it? Live an Organised life. When you
have always been living on the edge, hopping and trail bending from one goal to
another or from one important task to another. It is not only a restless
lifestyle but also harmful in the long term. Hence, it is always suggested to
lead an organised and planned life.
Though, we have been living in a society where hustle
is more glamorised than healthy living. But going on a planned life of hustle
and a chaotic run towards goals will be a huge difference in your mental
health. Got to take care of it as well.
Meditation
Fulfilling all the responsibilities and checking down
that to-do list while being on a tight schedule might let you forget about
meditation or even breathing. But don’t forget that it is as important as
having a meal on time. Opposite to popular belief, you don’t need a lot of time
to meditate.
An initial practice of 2 to 5 minutes, to begin with,
can help you a lot in making meditation a habit. All you need to do is to
practice concentrating for a longer amount of time. But always begin with baby
steps. It has also been scientifically proven that; a regular meditation
practice may aid in preserving brain grey matter and in reducing the risk of
dementia.
For making it a practice, you can join a meditation
class or a meditation group. Indulging in a group activity would help you in
following the correct technique and make you more patient to practice
meditation as a habit.
Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning is the process of learning by
doing. While cognitive learning helps you more in the behavioural aspects,
experiential learning would help you get out of your comfort zone and put you
into simulative situations for memorable experiences.
Experiential Learning has been proven to have a great
effect on Alzheimer's and has a last effect on the brain. It helps in building
new brain cells and keeps them younger for a longer period.
Travelling to places that you have never been before.
Or indulging in adventurous activities like Scuba Diving, Snorkelling,
Sky-Diving etc., helps you garner those experiences that not only change your
perspective but cause the regeneration of younger brain cells.
Make genuine connections
Stress has become a part and parcel of people’s life.
And no matter how much you try to avoid it, it will chase you. But, if you have
a fear of Alzheimer’s disease, should you add to that stress and start living
in fear? It is not true if you have your loved ones with you.
You already know that a lifetime's worth of friendship
would only help you in your older age. And to develop and nurture these
relationships, it is always good to start in your 20s. Even if you are an
introvert. Go out and meet people.
Personally meet people with whom you have a good
repertoire online. Join a hobby class or a recreational group. You would find
people with similar tastes and interests with whom you can share some
stress-free time and memorable moments.
Pay attention to your diet chart
Though Alzheimer’s
disease is a genetic disorder and would pass on to the next generation. The
condition can still be triggered early or delayed later by your diet.
Decreasing the sugar intake and cholesterol can create long term delay in the
effect of the disease.
But not every food can
cause the magic. However, Mediterranean diet has scientifically proven to
ensure the reduction in the risk of Alzheimer. What does Mediterranean Diet
contain? It mainly constitutes of whole grains, Vegetables, Legumes, Fruits,
Dry Fruits, Seeds, Herbs and Spices.
You can tweak your
regular meal accordingly as well. Try to add Olive Oil instead of any other
vegetable oil. Avoid snacking during late hours and make Caesar’s Salad as your
staple choice when you go out. Fish, Red Meat and Eggs can also be your warrior
against the disease.
Don’t miss on physical exercise
When was the last time
you stretched? No, when it comes to preventing the effects of Alzheimer’s
disease, you need not to go for those sweaty hours in the gym and grow your
muscles. But a habit of doing minimal exercise can go long term. Just 15
minutes regularly can cause a big difference.
I know, when you open
your eyes to tones of emails that has deadlines pending and requests to fulfil.
It can be extremely difficult to get 15 minutes regularly. It would be
impossible for you if you have a field job and incapable of sticking to a
schedule.
But a slight adjustment
in your habits can go a long way. It would also help you with your mindset.
Taking the stairs instead of elevator or walking a few blocks during that
coffee break with your colleagues would definitely make a difference.
Quit smoking immediately
Yeah, you thought about
it a thousand times. But the stress that comes with every day work always
pushes you to get that one stick out. You just inhale it and get back. But it
happens all over again and since then it has been your toxic mate.
But just one every day,
in long term can weaken your neurons that they would be beyond repair. The
oxygenated air that gets taken into the brain, if filled with toxins from
cigarettes would weaken the nerves of the brain. And it has been scientifically
observed.
So, if you have a genetic
history of Alzheimer, it would be best for you to get rid of smoking
immediately. And adapt to a healthy snack. Vapes too, have proven to cause a
similar effect in the brain. So, if you are thinking of adapting to a trendy,
lifestyle change, think again.
Resist too much alcohol
One glass of your
favourite red wine with dinner is fine. A bubbling, flute glass of champagne on
the weekend at the meeting would not be bad either. But doubling that down with
a glass of whisky. Or compensating for those lonely sessions at the bar with
tumbler of beer regularly won’t help your health.
It has been observed by
the Alzheimer’s Society in a study, that a minimal amount of Alcohol
consumption might not make a difference. But a good amount of alcohol for long
periods of time can cause significant effect on your condition. Not only it can
increase the risk of dementia but it also leads to nerve damage way faster than
expected.
Make genuine connections
Stress has become a part
and parcel in people’s life. And no matter how much you try to avoid it, it
will chase you. But, if you have a fear of Alzheimer’s disease, should you add
to that stress and start living in fear? It is not true if you have your loved
ones with you.
You already know that a lifetime worth of friendship would only help you in your older age. And to develop and nurture these relationships, it is always good to star
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