Possible Ways To Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Manage Cholesterol

A healthy diet is important for every aspect of an individual's physical health, but it may also help prevent Alzheimer's disease. In particular, it's important for individuals to manage their cholesterol. There have been links between high levels of 'bad' cholesterol and the development of Alzheimer's disease. When a patient's cholesterol is too high, their body overproduces proteins that cause plaque buildups in the arteries and other blood vessels. There may also be protein buildups in the brain, which can lead to the development of dementia and similar conditions.

High levels of 'bad' cholesterol might indicate the patient's body isn't breaking down amyloid proteins the way it's supposed to. There are a few ways individuals can improve their cholesterol, including eliminating trans fats from their diet and reducing saturated fats. Individuals should also increase the amount of soluble fiber in their diet and eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the best things individuals can do for their physical health. Not only does smoking increase an individual's risk of developing lung cancer, but it also causes serious damage to their respiratory and cardiovascular health. But there have also been studies linking smoking to the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. One study indicates individuals who smoke heavily during their middle-aged years have more than double the risk of developing dementia.

In the study, more than twenty-five percent of individuals who smoked multiple packs a day were later diagnosed with some form of dementia. About two-thirds of the dementia cases were Alzheimer's disease. By contrast, individuals who quit smoking or who smoked under half a pack of cigarettes each day didn't have a significantly increased risk of dementia.