By Ethelle G. Lord, M.Ed.,DM
In the ongoing fight to find a cause and cure for
Alzheimer's disease, one of the things the medical community agrees on is that
a generally healthy lifestyle is a very good way to protect against the threat
of the disease later in life. Yet why that is so is anyone's guess. Until a
cause of Alzheimer's is known definitively, all we can say for sure is that
good general health enables the body to fight disease better.
The knowledge of better health and its link to
preventing dementia has led researchers to uncover five interesting “clues”
about how and why the disease develops. These five things could explain the
better health angle for protecting against Alzheimer's. According to eastern
Pennsylvania's WFMZ TV, the clues are:
1. Higher Blood Sugar Levels
WFMZ cited a study from the University of
Washington that looked at more than 2,000 individuals over a period of five
years. The research revealed that those with consistently elevated blood sugar
levels had an 18% higher risk of developing some form of dementia. What they
couldn't figure out is why that is the case.
If blood sugar levels do play a role in
Alzheimer's, it would explain why a healthy diet would help. Consuming more
fruits and vegetables and less refined sugars seems to be a good suggestion.
2. High Blood Pressure
We already know that high blood pressure
(systolic) is a problem in many ways. However, could it also be a signal of
future Alzheimer's disease? It is
quite possible, according to another study cited by WFMZ. This study apparently
showed higher levels of the tau protein in the blood of individuals with high
blood pressure.
Tau is one of the substances we already know is
involved in causing the brain cell damage of Alzheimer's. Moreover, because the
research shows higher levels of tau for every ten-point increase in systolic
blood pressure, keeping your blood pressure under control is a good thing to
do.
3. Heart Disease
Heart disease, like high blood pressure, can easily
lead to so many other devastating health conditions. If your heart is not
functioning properly, it affects every other part of your body as well.
Apparently, heart disease is a strong indication of dementia in the future.
WFMZ cites numerous studies that show that as
many as 80% of all Alzheimer’s patients also have some level of heart disease.
It would appear that keeping your heart healthy, by remaining active and eating
properly, could help prevent dementia in some people.
4. Depression
It should be no surprise that clinical depression
has been linked to Alzheimer's disease by numerous studies. According to Dr.
Wayne Katon of the University of Washington, a combination of clinical
depression and diabetes increases your risk of developing Alzheimer's by more
than two times.
Unfortunately, clinical depression is a mental
illness that has many unanswered questions of its own. Nonetheless, doing what
you can to maintain good mental health will help in lots of ways above and
beyond Alzheimer's disease.
5. Pace and Stride
This last clue may be more of a warning sign than
something you could work on to help prevent dementia. It comes by way of your
pace and stride. According to WFMZ, researchers at the Mayo Clinic have
discovered that those who walk more slowly and with a shortened stride are
somewhat more likely to be suffering from some sort of dementia or other loss
of mental function. This makes sense when think about how complicated the
process of walking is for the brain.
There is still a lot more about Alzheimer's
disease we do not know. The good news is that research is moving along at a
more accelerated rate than ever before. It is just a matter of time before a
definitive cause is revealed, thus facilitating preventative measures and a
cure. Until then, your best defense against the disease is to maintain a
balanced and healthy lifestyle throughout your entire life.
At Remembering For You - Ethelle G. Lord, M.Ed.,DM has created a unique Caregiver Partnership Agreement Program that promotes inter-professionalism in organizations and changes the way long-term care is delivered. She is also a pioneer in Alzheimer's coaching having been the first to create a certification program (15-week study course) and delivered on Webinar technology so that nobody needs to leave the comfort of their office/home to take this program. Dr. Lord is also the author of HOW IN THE WORLD... AND NOW WHAT DO I DO? A Primer for Alzheimer's: 12 Major Points for Coping Better available at http://AlzheimersPrimer.com.
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