Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention: 7 Most Important Factors

Every year, about 35 million people around the world are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most terrible mind-robbing mental disorders. Alzheimer’s is linked to a loss of brain function and memory loss, that seriously damage the function of thinking and affect the person’s behavior to a great extent. There are no known treatments to reverse this dreadful disease, that is why the importance of Alzheimer’s disease prevention is impossible to underestimate. And it is crucial to think about this aging-related health condition and cut its risk factors even for those who are in their early 30s-40s.

Last month, the findings of an interesting survey were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in France. A group of American researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, received the highest appreciation and financial support from the U.S. National Institutes on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association of the U.S. for their important work and findings. After years of scientific work, observations, tests and experiments, these Americans scientists managed to point out the most important factors directly linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Below, you can find out more about those factors.

1. Low education. This is the most influential factor, and the nations with the highest rates of illiteracy have the highest rates of Alzheimer’s disease too. A lack of knowledge and no anxiety for knowledge can make a person make many mistakes or follow wrong ideas, but the most important: it does not allow developing so called “brain power” to prevent mental disorders like Alzheimer’s. In particular, before it was found out that bilingual people have considerably lower chances to develop Alzheimer’s disease. “Education, even at a young age, starts to build your neural networks,” says Deborah Barnes, associate professor of psychiatry and the study leader.

2. Smoking. This factor also plays a key role and should be considered very important for Alzheimer’s disease prevention. Smoking 1-2 packs of cigarettes a day damages not only our brain but also almost all vital organs and systems of our body.

3. A lack of exercise. Sedentary lifestyle causes a great deal of very serious and life-threatening diseases and ailments. It also contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Inactivity is one of the main factors for the US and other economically strong countries of the world.

4. Depression. This factor is also one of the leading for today’s US, and many specialists are sure that if depression is left uncured and untreated, it can impose our health to serious risks and dangers, including such condition as Alzheimer’s disease.

5. High blood pressure. It was noticed that great cardiovascular health is strictly linked to reduced chances for Alzheimer’s.

6. Obesity. There are very strong connections between obesity and Alzheimer’s, as brain function is linked to our blood cholesterol levels, the studies have shown. Reducing own body mass is crucial for an effective Alzheimer’s disease prevention.

7. Diabetes. People with diabetes are at very high risk of having Alzheimer’s disease in the future, because such factor as high insulin levels are reported to contribute to blood vessel inflammation and  reduced brain function.

Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.

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