How to Prevent Alzheimer's Naturally: 5 Tips

Prevent Alzheimer's Naturally it can be possible with changes in the lifestyle, feeding and practicing certain physical and mental activities. Although it is not possible to avoid it in all cases, such changes always bring an improvement in physical and mental health.

Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a cognitive impairment in a progressive and irreversible way.

How to prevent Alzheimer's

That is, a person with Alzheimer's will gradually lose his mental faculties, with no ability to stop the progression of the disease and without power To recover their cognitive functions.

However, certain risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease have been connoted, so that certain behaviors could combat its development and prevent its occurrence.

In this article we will explain what can be done to To prevent Alzheimer's disease And what aspects could play an important role in its development.

Can Alzheimer's be prevented or cured?

Elderly person on bike

The Alzheimer disease (EA) is the neurodegenerative pathology par excellence. Its incidence increases with age and its prevalence doubles every 5 years to From the age of 65.

In fact, it is estimated that up to 30% of the population over 80 can suffer from this disease. Thus, AD is one of the diseases that most affect the elderly population.

In addition, given its devastating effects for the person who has it, it is undoubtedly one of the pathologies that greater research efforts Scientist monopolizes today.

However, such efforts have not resulted in the discovery of a cure for Alzheimer's disease, which remains a degenerative disease Irreversible, so it can be considered as"incurable".

What is known with sufficient accuracy is the mechanism of action and neurodegeneration of this disease.

In AD, there is progressive degeneration of neurons in the hippocampus , Entorhinal cortex , Temporal associative cortex and parietal , And basal nucleus Meynert magnocellular, the main source of cholinergic fibers with projections at the Cerebral cortex .

This neuronal dysfunction results in neurochemical changes in the concentration and effect of brain neurotransmitters. One of the most affected, the Acetylcholine , Seems more involved in the process of storing new information.

Existing"specific"treatments are based on this hypothesis, and increase cerebral cholinergic"tone"by inhibiting Acetylcholinesterase.

The most significant pathological findings in the brains of patients with this disease are senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, Located mainly in the hippocampus and Temporal lobe .

However, these discoveries have not yet translated into the design of drugs that, through their mechanisms of action, are capable of Interrupt the progression of the disease.

Thus, despite extensive advances in the mechanism of action of Alzheimer's disease, there is still no evidence Allow to demonstrate the origin of this disease, nor what psychoactive drugs could stop its evolution.

What are the risk factors for Alzheimer's?

Old man on boat

Of the explained in the previous section the idea is extracted that today it is globally reconcomio that Alzheimer is a disease Multifactorial, heterogeneous and irreversible.

This means that for their development the combination of genetic and environmental factors is required.

It is contemplated that the basic substrate may be accelerated neuronal aging not counteracted by the normal compensatory mechanisms of brain.

Also, many studies postulate that genetic factors predispose to the disease and modulate the age of onset of the clinic.

Thus, while genetics would predispose us to Alzheimer's disease, environmental factors would act as favoring or triggering symptom. Among these risk factors we find:

1-Age

It is the main risk marker of the disease, so that the prevalence increases as age increases, doubling every 5 years From the 60's.

2-Sex

Although the data obtained may be due to a longer life expectancy of women compared to men, the prevalence of AD is higher in women Than in men (2: 1).

This fact would show that being a woman could be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

3-Genetics

Mutations of certain genes (PS-1 located on chromosome 14, PS-2 on chromosome 1 and PPA on chromosome 21) inexorably determine the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease.

There are also predisposing genetic markers, which would increase the risk of AD, as an APOE gene located on chromosome 19 and its alleles E2, e3 and e4.

4-Family History of Dementia

Between 40% and 50% of the affected individuals have a family history of dementia .

5-Cranioencephalic trauma (TBI)

The role of the TCE Is controversial when it comes to predicting the occurrence of AD, but what has been shown is that those people carrying the e4 allele of the APOE gene have a higher risk of Alzhiemer pacing after a TBI.

6-Education

Although AD can occur in people with any educational level, an increase in AD has been reported among subjects with less education.

7-Diet

In countries where daily calorie intake is low as China, there is a lower incidence of AD, so a very high intake in Calories could be a risk factor for the disease.

Likewise, polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant vitamin supplements (vitamins E and C) have demonstrated a neuroprotective role for EA, which indicates that certain types of diet may also be a risk factor for the disease.

5 Tips to Prevent and Fight Alzheimer's

Old friends

The risk factors discussed above give us clues as to what facts may increase the likelihood of Alzheimer's, so They indicate certain aspects to take into account when it comes to preventing it.

Obviously, many of the aspects mentioned above are unpredictable, so they can not be part of the range of behaviors that can reduce The risk of suffering Alzheimer's.

Thus, risk factors such as age, sex or genetics, few strategies can provide us when our intention is to prevent the Development of the disease.

However, they can give us valuable information to identify people who are at increased risk for Alzheimer's and therefore can, In a way, to indicate who we are most"obliged"to conduct preventive behaviors and who we are less.

But look! We must remember that Alzheimer's is a multifactorial disease, heterogeneous and of unknown origin, so that risk factors Commented are simply that, and do not delimit the development or non-development of pathology.

Therefore, there are currently no strategies, no drugs or infallible exercises to prevent their occurrence, although they can increase the chances of avoiding it and always improve mental abilities.

To study

One of the risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's disease discussed above are the studies.

Although this pathology can be witnessed in person with any educational level, a higher prevalence has been noted in people with lower education.

This fact could be explained by the Neuronal plasticity And compensatory mechanisms of the brain.

In this way, the more you exercise your brain through educational and intellectual activities, the more resources you will have to deal with Aging of brain structures.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by degeneration of Brain neurons , So the more you have worked these structures during the course Of life, the more options you will have of not succumbing to this disease in old age.

2. Read each day

In the same line of the previous advice appears the reading like constant habit in the day to day.

Reading brings multiple mental benefits, as apart from learning new things, we are exercising our ability to comprehend, store and memory.

In this way, having a daily habit that allows us to work these functions can play an even more relevant role than having performed Studies during some time of our life.

Thus, people who use reading as a distraction, hobby or hobby, perform a greater stimulation of their brain and increase their plasticity and Its compensatory potential.

3. Exercise memory

If one thing has become clear through the many investigations that have been done about Alzheimer's disease, is that its first Manifestation is the reduction of learning ability and memory loss.

In fact, it has been shown that the first brain areas affected, and therefore, the areas where Alzheimer's disease appears, are the Regions where the functions of memory are performed, specifically the hippocampus and the Entorhinal cortex .

Therefore, activities that stimulate and increase the performance of these brain areas can be of vital importance in reducing Risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Exercise memory through Cognitive stimulation exercises Is a basic activity both to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease and to Slow its evolution when it has already manifested itself.

4. Exercise other cognitive functions

It is common to fall into the error of thinking that Alzheimer's is a simple memory dysfunction, but in reality it is not.

Although the inability to learn and the decreased capacity to remember are the first symptoms of the disease, Alzheimer's is a Pathology involving many other cognitive deficits.

Thus, through the same principles of neuronal plasticity discussed above, it is very beneficial for the correct functioning of the Mental abilities exercise all cognitive functions.

Calculation, improvement of language and speech, visual memory, visuoconstruction, capacity of concentration wave Focalization of care They are Operations we probably do not do on a daily basis.

Moreover, depending on the professional functions that we carry out, as well as the daily activities that we do normally, it is probable that Some of these cognitive functions work very little.

So, to reduce the likelihood of Alzheimer's, it is very important that we work our whole brain functioning, and Side the cognitive functions that we use less in the day to day.

5. Do a balanced diet

As we have seen previously in Alzheimer's risk factors, eating seems to play on paper of some importance.

The fact that in countries where the daily calorie intake is lower has a lower incidence of Alzheimer's, it is indicative that taking A balanced diet may be a good practice to prevent the development of the disease.

In the same way, polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant vitamin supplements have been shown to play a nu- Development of the disease.

So, carry out a diet that is not excessively caloric, and is accompanied by antioxidant vitamin supplements (vitamins E and C) and acids Polyunsaturated fatty acids, is a healthy way to prevent the development of Alzheimer's.

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by an early deterioration of the Episodic memory Which does not improve with Recognition tests.

Thus, the first manifestations of this pathology consist in a progressive diminution of the capacity to learn and to remember, due to the Degeneration of Parts of the brain Which are responsible for such functions.

However, Alzheimer's disease is not a simple loss of memory, as all areas of the brain gradually degenerate.

In this way, after the first symptoms of memory loss, other alterations will appear, such as problems in the calculation, difficulties in the Speech and recognition, or Decreased attention .

Also, serious cortical cognitive dysfunctions will appear as the Agnosia , the aphasia wave Apraxia .

So, Alzheimer's is understood as a disease that degenerates the brain little by little, so the person who suffers it will lose all Their faculties, to the point of not recognizing their relatives, not being able to control their sphincters or not being able to walk properly.

In this article You can know the main consequences of Alzheimer's.

References

  1. Bird, T.D., Miller, B.L (2006). Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias. In S Hauser, Harrison. Neurology in clinical medicine Pp 273-293). Madrid: S.A. MCGRAW-HILL.

  1. Brañas, F., Serra, J.A. (2002). Orientation and treatment of the elderly with dementia. Therapeutic Information of the National Health System. 26 (3), 65-77.

  1. Martí, P., Mercadal, M., Cardona, J., Ruiz, I., Sagristá, M., Mañós, Q. (2004). Non-pharmacological intervention in dementias and Alzheimer's: miscellaneous. In J, Deví., J, God, Dementias and Alzheimer's disease: a practical and interdisciplinary approach (559-587). Barcelona: Higher Institute of Psychological Studies.

  1. Martorell, M.A. (2008). Looking at the mirror: Reflections on the identity of the person with Alzheimer's. In Romaní, O., Larrea, C., Fernández, J. Anthropology of medicine, methodology and interdisciplinarity: from theories to academic and professional practices (Pp. 101-118). Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
  1. Slachevsky, A., Oyarzo, F. (2008). Dementias: history, concept, classification and clinical approach. In E, Labos., A, Slachevsky., P, Sources., E, Manes., Treaty of Clinical Neuropsychology. Buenos Aires: Akadia

  1. Tárrega, L., Boada, M., Morera, A., Guitart, M., Domènech, S., Llorente, A. (2004) Review Papers: Practical exercises of cognitive stimulation for patients with Alzheimer's in mild phase. Barcelona: Editorial Glosa.


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