How to Avoid Alzheimer's

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

" How to Avoid Alzheimer's

H. Thies, PhD, vice president for medical and scientific

affairs at the Alzheimer's Association, says researchers have a good

idea about what some of the environmental risks may be.

" We've long recognized that education has an impact on reducing the

likelihood of Alzheimer's disease, " Thies tells WebMD. " The other

more lately evolving ideas fit mostly around heart disease risk

factors. Alzheimer's risk is linked to high blood pressure, high

cholesterol, high blood sugar, a high-fat diet, a sedentary

lifestyle, and the lack of social connectivity. "

We can't pick our parents, so there's not much we can do about

genetic risks. But Thies points out that there are several things one

can do to cut your risk of Alzheimer's disease -- especially if the

disease runs in your family:

Stay mentally active.

Be socially involved.

Get physical exercise.

Eat a brain-healthy diet.

Genes aren't destiny, Gatz says. If you think you or a loved one may

be getting Alzheimer's disease, it's time to act.

" The strong message to people is if there is any kind of concern

about dementia, it is important to get a good professional

evaluation, " she says. " There can be reversible causes of cognitive

change. Or doctors may be able to offer either psychological or

medical interventions that can slow processes of cognitive change. "

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SOURCES: Gatz, M. Archives of General Psychiatry, February 2006; vol

663: pp 168-174. Margaret Gatz, PhD, professor of psychology,

University of Southern California, Los Angeles. H. Thies,

PhD, vice president for medical and scientific affairs, Alzheimer's

Association, Chicago. "

Source: http://foxnews.webmd.com/content/article/118/112978.htm?

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