Signs of Alzheimer's Disease Can Start in Your 20s
Most people under the age of 40 do not pay too much attention to their Alzheimer’s risk because it is a disease commonly associated with the older generations. However, newest research has found that amyloid protein, the maker of Alzheimer’s disease, has been found in individuals in their twenties. This new research is considered worrisome because it could be a sign that what causes Alzheimer’s later in life is actually started in the younger years.
What does this new research mean for you? It means that you should live a healthier lifestyle no matter how old you are. It is never too early to live a healthy life that can prevent Alzheimer’s. Here are a few ways to start protecting your brain today.
Get Serious About Your Bad Habits
Alzheimer’s disease can be enhanced by many poor health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, pulmonary function, and obesity. This means you need to kick bad habits that are known to lead to these health issues. Some bad habits you should get serious about today are overeating, heavy drinking, smoking, and skipping exercise.
Get a Clean Diet
Ditch the processed foods and eat a clean diet. Add more brain-boosting foods to your diet to lower your Alzheimer’s risk. The Mediterranean diet, which is a diet rich in nuts, whole grains, fruit, and vegetables, has been connected to better cognitive function. Blueberries and healthy fats, like coconut oil and raw olive oil, are both linked to lower Alzheimer’s risk too.
Sweat It Out
There’s no way to live a healthy lifestyle and avoid regular exercise. Working out has continually been found to boost your health in so many ways. Regular exercise even boosts the brain’s activity. In fact, some studies done with animals have found that exercise can reduce the amount of amyloid protein, which means a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Even just walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day, four days a week has been found to improve neural efficiency in individuals. This means they were able to perform a task with fewer mental resources.
Work Out Your Brain
Working out your body is not enough. You also need to engage in regular mental exercises. Do activities daily that challenge your brain, such as playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, and more. Thinking positively can also keep your brain healthier too.
While it may be alarming that cause of Alzheimer’s disease can be started in the brain early on in life, it should not be a huge concern if you follow the right healthy guidelines. Start thinking about your brain health today, no matter how old you are.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Alzheimer's Association - Greater Illinois