Lifestyle Choices Can Protect the Brain

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are major threats to successful aging, and a steady stream of new information and ideas are coming out of the medical community about how to confront it. In fact, right now, 36 novel Alzheimer’s drugs are being tested in clinical trials; if any of them are successful, we can expect to see new treatments launched in the next five years.

I, for one, am optimistic that we are on the cusp of a breakthrough in this field of research – and that scientific study will soon yield remarkable results for the millions of patients afflicted by this disease, alongside the families and friends who suffer with them.

In the meantime, a number of trends are currently emerging, focused on prevention and lifestyle as a means to protect the brain as people age. At this past year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, experts unveiled a report showing that more than one-third of the planet’s dementia cases may be preventable by mitigating important risk factors like low education, hypertension, diabetes, depression, physical inactivity, smoking, and minimal social contact.

These issues don’t stem from genetics or DNA; they’re lifestyle matters, and most can be altered by changing a person’s choices and behaviors.

One of those choices is, in the simplest terms, to eat better. Recent research indicates that healthier eating habits may preserve brain function and reduce the possibility of dementia. One study of nearly 6,000 older adults showed that anyone who adhered to diets known to improve heart health were more likely to maintain their cognitive abilities as they age.

What’s more, the MIND diet, combining Mediterranean food options with those for individuals with high blood pressure, has been demonstrated to decrease the risk of cognitive impairment compared to those who don’t follow such a diet by as much as 35 percent. The upshot of this expanding wealth of data is pretty clear and straightforward: take care of your heart, your weight, and your physical health now, and your mind will wind up in better shape down the road.

Looking at 2018 and the years ahead, I am confident that a growing proportion of the population will begin to accept these facts and act on this knowledge – and that more people will alter their lifestyle decisions early on so their brains benefit as they age.

More 2018 predictions from Herbalife Nutrition experts here: https://iamherbalife.com/blog/