07/04/2024
In medical school, we aren’t taught that there are ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, when, in fact, we have a lot of power over the direction our brain function will take. However, we’re now learning that the disease starts in the brain 20 to 30 years before the first signs of memory loss!
This is why we should all be thinking about prevention.
Here’s the bad news/good news.
Eating sugar and refined carbs can cause pre-dementia and dementia. But cutting out the sugar and refined carbs and adding lots of fat can prevent, and even reverse, pre-dementia and early dementia. Sugar causes pre-diabetes and diabetes, which often leads to significant memory loss.
Chronic stress takes a toll on your body and brain. Stress shrinks the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain. So, find your pause button daily and make time for stress relief. Relaxation isn’t a luxury if you want to prevent or reverse dementia. Whether that involves deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, find something that helps you calm down.
Lack of sleep can cause impaired brain function, leading to CRAFT syndrome, which stands for “can’t remember a _____ thing.” Studies show poor sleep becomes a risk factor for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Aim for at least 8 hours of quality sleep every night.
We now know that physical activity can prevent and even slow down the progression of cognitive decline and brain diseases like dementia. Even a 30-minute walk can help. You might want to incorporate high-intensity interval training or weight lifting if you're already more active.
