| The research for a cure for Alzheimer's disease is | | | | countries correlates with the consumption of total fat. |
| actually accelerating. This neurodegenerative disease | | | | Fro example, in the United States, 5 percent of all |
| that adversely affects millions of older Americans is | | | | persons over the age of sixty-five have the disease, |
| receiving continued assistance from the Alzheimer | | | | while in China and Nigeria, where the fat intake is much |
| Association. The Alzheimer's Association is the leading | | | | lower, the incidence is only 1 percent. Japanese who |
| national advocate for Alzheimer's disease. While it is | | | | move to America and double the amount of fat in their |
| not yet clear if Alzheimer's can be prevented, there is | | | | diet have twice the incidence of Alzheimer's than do |
| increasing evidence that you can take specific steps | | | | those who do not emigrate and presumably maintain |
| to help reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer's | | | | their old eating habits.NicotineNicotine is a prime |
| disease.Head FirstGood health starts with your brain. | | | | example of how new research data can supersede |
| It's one of the body's most vital organs and it needs | | | | and negate previously acquired information. We used |
| care and maintenance.Ongoing mental and physical | | | | to believe that smokers were less likely than |
| exerciseExercise keeps the brain healthy. Either use it | | | | non-smokers to develop Alzheimer's. But the |
| or lose it. Regular physical activity increases the blood | | | | anti-tobacco community is now breathing easier |
| flow to the brain and provides the nutrients necessary | | | | because more recent studies indicate that smoking |
| to render its tissues resistant to Alzheimer's. Exercise | | | | doubles the risk of getting Alzheimer's.Vitamin EHardly |
| also increases the number of connections among the | | | | a day does by without some favorable report about |
| millions of brain cells needed for normal mental function. | | | | vitamin E. I can't think of any downside of this vitamin, |
| Get into the habit of walking for thirty or sixty minutes | | | | with the possible exception of its raising blood pressure |
| a day as briskly as possible. Stair climbing is particularly | | | | and causing some extra beats in some people. Vitamin |
| effective, so take the steps when going up or down | | | | E increases fertility in rats; it's good for the heart; and |
| one or two flights and leave the elevators and | | | | many doctors prescribe it for the treatment of |
| escalators to the kids.EducationSeveral population | | | | vascular disease, particularly for narrowing the arteries |
| studies have shown that the more schooling you have, | | | | in the legs. Now comes word that vitamin E may also |
| the greater are your chances against Alzheimer's. | | | | delay the onset of Alzheimer's, presumably by virtue |
| That may be because the educated are more likely to | | | | of its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants, of which |
| eat more nutritiously and receive better medical care | | | | there are many, are said to neutralize the harmful |
| throughout their lives. However, like physical exercise, | | | | effects of free radicals, the byproducts of bodily |
| ongoing intellectual challenges stimulate the formation | | | | process that involve oxygen. These radicals carry an |
| of nerve connections. Even if you are destined to | | | | extra electron that can damage the protein in the brain |
| develop Alzheimer's, the more neutrons you develop | | | | and other organs and accelerate the aging process. |
| when you are young, the more you can afford to lose | | | | The body's own antioxidant normally neutralizes these |
| before symptoms set in.Many retired seniors sign up | | | | free radicals, but this defense can be enhanced by |
| for classes in accounting, law, art, music, economics, or | | | | supplemental vitamin E.Hold off on heavy metalsHeavy |
| whatever else interests them to stay mentally active, | | | | metals such as mercury and lead are known to cause |
| and not necessarily to start a second career. The | | | | brain injury that may not be reversible. Sources of |
| longer you continue your education at any age, or | | | | heavy metals include large fish (such as swordfish, |
| keep your mind busy in some other way, the more | | | | tuna steaks, tilefish, king mackerel, shark, halibut and |
| likely your neurons are to connect with each other | | | | mahi-mahi), which are high in mercury and "silver" |
| later on.Reduce stressChronic stress (as well as | | | | dental fillings. Lead exposure may occur from old paint |
| anxiety and depression) raises your body's production | | | | and some calcium supplements, which have recently |
| of the adrenal hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol | | | | found to be contaminated with lead.Along the way, |
| have been shown to lead to memory impairment and | | | | neurologists have discovered that the brain is much |
| atrophy of memory centers in the brain. Stress | | | | more adaptable as it ages than they realized. They |
| reduction techniques such as exercise, meditation, | | | | have determined that the so-called plasticity of the |
| yoga, Tai Chi and biofeedback may help to combat | | | | brain, which allows the formation of new neurons as |
| chronic stress, anxiety and depression.DietEat as little | | | | well as new connections between those neurons, can |
| animal fat as possible to reduce your vulnerability to | | | | last a lifetime. |
| Alzheimer's. The incidence of Alzheimer's in different | | | | |