10 useful tips to prevent Alzheimer's

Given such alarming numbers, scientific research also shows that 45 percent of diagnoses could be avoided if a few simple prevention measures were followed.  

1. Do regular physical activity
   Moving every day improves blood circulation and protects the heart and brain.physical activity It's certainly an integral part of any plan aimed at promoting comprehensive prevention for a patient. Its absolute enemy, however, is its opposite: a sedentary lifestyle. A walk or any other sustained activity repeated several times a week benefits the entire body and even the brain, including memory and creativity.
2. Follow a healthy and balanced diet
   Prefer a Mediterranean diet, fruits, vegetables, and fish, and limit saturated fats and sugars. The foods to favor for a diet that aims to prevent Alzheimer's are those rich in vitamins e antioxidants come green leafy vegetables, among which asparagus, spinach e snuff. But also the blue fish, salmon and tuna which are rich in Omega-3. The fruit must always be present several times a day, especially seasonally, which is absolutely preferable. Also nuts, as nights e almonds, and extra virgin olive oil with the right moderation they can help.
3. Stimulate the brain
   Reading, studying, doing puzzles, learning new things or engaging in hobbies keeps brain connections active.
4. Maintain an active social life
   Spending time with friends, family, or participating in group activities reduces the risk of isolation. Persistent loneliness, whether desired or involuntary, can lead to a decline in brain activity over time.
   La correlation between loneliness and Alzheimer's It is quite evident in the studio Persistent loneliness, whether desired or involuntary, can lead to a decline in brain activity over time.
   La correlation between loneliness and Alzheimer's It is quite evident in the study published in the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia, where researchers have highlighted how a persistent and protracted loneliness over time may increase the risk of some form of dementia or Alzheimer's disease emerging in the patient by up to two times compared to subjects who have lived in a context of stable social relationships. where researchers have highlighted how a persistent and protracted loneliness over time may increase the risk of some form of dementia or Alzheimer's disease emerging in the patient by up to two times compared to subjects who have lived in a context of stable social relationships.
5. Check your cardiovascular health
   Monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and weight, because what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.
6. Not smoking
   Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of dementia.
7. Limit alcohol
   Drinking too much increases the risk of brain damage and dementia.
8. Sleep well
   Regular, quality sleep helps the brain eliminate toxic substances.
9. Protect your head, eyesight and hearing
   Avoid head trauma and treat hearing or vision loss, which are risk factors.
10. Taking care of your mental health
    Depression, stress, and isolation can increase your risk: it's important to seek help and maintain your psychological well-being.

Exercises against Alzheimer's

The degenerative process of Alzheimer's begins 15-20 years before symptoms appear. This means the disease can be prevented, starting with cognitive screenings, which are recommended for those aged 50 and older. This includes a protocol, "Train the Brain ," developed by neurophysiologist Lamberto Maffei with the National Research Council's Neuroscience Institute and the University of Pisa. This protocol includes cognitive and physical exercises to strengthen memory and keep the brain active. For example:

• Remembering numerical sequences, initially short, with one or two digits, then increasingly longer, with three-digit numbers.
• Play word games, by reconstructing words that are missing letters (this is the mechanism of crossword puzzles).
• Search for words that are intruders on a shorter original word list.
• Do aerobic exercises that also engage your memory.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is a dementia that is still quite complex to diagnose . Despite the use of advanced technological tools, it is still difficult to differentiate the various forms of dementia from Alzheimer's disease itself. In fact, a diagnosis can only be confirmed through an autopsy, specifically by verifying the presence of typical senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles . Another variable to consider is the variable of symptoms , which unfortunately begin to appear late compared to the onset of the disease. This means that by the time the first symptoms are experienced, the patient is already at a stage where no therapy will bring about improvement. The clinical course is certain and incontrovertible. The most obvious symptoms, which should not be ignored as warning signs of Alzheimer's, are the following:

• Short-term memory loss
• Language regression
• Reduction of autonomy in daily activities
• Sleep-related disorders
• Depression with worsening that can lead to delusions, hallucinations and frequent agitation
• Loss of track of time
• Sense of spatial disorientation

Rapid test for Alzheimer's

Significant progress is also being made in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The most interesting development comes from the University of Pittsburgh, where a group of researchers has identified a way to diagnose the disease early. It starts with a simple blood test. The test distinguishes brain-derived tau (bd-tau) from that produced elsewhere in the body. And it is precisely the bd-tau biomarker that allows us to distinguish Alzheimer's from other neurodegenerative diseases. The advantages of early diagnosis are numerous. Aside from the possibility of more timely intervention, Alzheimer's is currently diagnosed through MRI, PET scan, or lumbar puncture. These are all very expensive and time-consuming tests.

Read also:

• New gene that causes Alzheimer's discovered
• Senile dementia: causes and prevention
• “Caregiver whisper,” a blog that humorously recounts the relationship between a son and his mother with Alzheimer's.