Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease with no cure and no confirmed way to prevent it. Physicians, the Alzheimer’s Association and several organizations, however, suggest that certain activities and a balanced diet may prolong a healthy life and prevent early onset of the disease.
Susan Frick, who runs the support group Without Warning at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, said the center has been studying specific lifestyle choices of people with and without Alzheimer’s for years.
“We’re doing a lot of research here looking at lifestyle,” she said. Some of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center’s studies are the longest-running Alzheimer’s studies in the country. The center has about 3,000 participants who are tested throughout the years and then donate their brains for research after their death.
“There does seem to be some patterns in people’s past that can … help them not get Alzheimer’s disease,” Frick said. “But again it’s all research and it’s not definite.”
One such pattern is a person’s daily diet. The Alzheimer’s Association has a handout titled “Good Fuel for Your Brain,” which lists healthy brain food. The association cites foods high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and vitamin E as especially good for people with cognitive impairment.
Dr. Diane Kerwin, assistant professor in geriatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, adds that diets high in vitamin B and vitamin B-12 are also beneficial to the brain and could help play a preventative role.
According to helpguide.org, a non-profit website for medical issues, and Alzheimer’s Weekly, a free newsletter for those affected by Alzheimer’s, a Mediterranean diet includes all of these nutritious benefits.
The Mediterranean diet consists of whole grains, fish, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables. “I do know no matter what, there is going to be a benefit if you adopt more healthy lifestyles and diets into your life,” Kerwin said. “A higher body mass index and weight do correlate with a higher risk of dementia,” she said.
The Alzheimer’s Association and the Help Guide also state that exercise and staying active is important. Being physically fit, according to the International Journal of Clinical Practice reduces a person’s probability of developing Alzheimer’s.
“We do know that regular exercise can be beneficial for brain function almost immediately,” Kerwin said. “It also helps you maintain an ideal body weight.”Puzzles such as crosswords and word searches also can help a person’s brain to keep active.
Help Guide lists several habits people should eliminate to lower their chances of obtaining Alzheimer’s disease. Two such risks are smoking, which can increase a person’s chance of getting the disease up to 79 percent, and being obese. Chronic stress and not enough sleep could also add to the chances of a person attaining the disease, according to Help Guide. “It’s never too late to start a healthy lifestyle,” Kerwin said. “It’s going to help you maintain good brain function.”
She said when her patients are first diagnosed, they are advised to follow a diet they should eat, such as the Mediterranean diet, and also recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. Frick said although maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important, sometimes it could only do so much.
“Nutrition … physical activity, cognitive activity, staying socially engaged and having a sense of purpose all seem to be positive in how you age,” she said. “But I sure know a lot of people who are pretty good on all those and still end up with memory issues, so it’s not clear-cut.”