Minimizing The Risk Of Alzheimer S Disease

Alzheimer's disease and dementia—which can begin in the 30s—are on the increase, and may soon overwhelm our health-care systems. Yet individuals can do much to educate themselves and learn how to minimize their risks. A prudent diet, lifestyle modifications, nutritional supplements, exercise and activities to stimulate the brain are some of the best ways to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease. Use your brain or lose it! That's all easy to say, but how scientific are these admonitions and how do we change our habits, anyway? Vitamins, minerals and food supplements are discussed in relation to memory and other functions, as well as an overview of medications, the effects of wine, and the dangers of smoking. The Appendices present helpful data to assist in decision-making regarding nursing homes, statistics for Alzheimer's state by state, and a list of support organizations worldwide. The present work is more comprehensive, better organized, and more reader friendly than 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's, a gimmicky book that contains extraneous material in short, 2-page chapters but does not list its references to enable concerned readers to take their research further.

This booklet summarizes what scientists have learned so far and where research is headed. There is no definitive evidence yet about what can prevent Alzheimer's or age-related cognitive decline. What we do know is that a healthy lifestyle-one that includes a healthy diet, physical activity, appropriate weight, and no smoking-can maintain and improve overall health and well-being. Making healthy choices can also lower the risk of certain chronic diseases, like heart disease and diabetes, and scientists are very interested in the possibility that a healthy lifestyle might have a beneficial effect on Alzheimer's as well. In the meantime, as research continues to pinpoint what works to prevent Alzheimer's, people of all ages can benefit from taking positive steps to get and stay healthy.

As the largest generation in U.S. history - the population born in the two decades immediately following World War II - enters the age of risk for cognitive impairment, growing numbers of people will experience dementia (including Alzheimer's disease and related dementias). By one estimate, nearly 14 million people in the United States will be living with dementia by 2060. Like other hardships, the experience of living with dementia can bring unexpected moments of intimacy, growth, and compassion, but these diseases also affect people's capacity to work and carry out other activities and alter their relationships with loved ones, friends, and coworkers. Those who live with and care for individuals experiencing these diseases face challenges that include physical and emotional stress, difficult changes and losses in their relationships with life partners, loss of income, and interrupted connections to other activities and friends. From a societal perspective, these diseases place substantial demands on communities and on the institutions and government entities that support people living with dementia and their families, including the health care system, the providers of direct care, and others. Nevertheless, research in the social and behavioral sciences points to possibilities for preventing or slowing the development of dementia and for substantially reducing its social and economic impacts. At the request of the National Institute on Aging of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Reducing the Impact of Dementia in America assesses the contributions of research in the social and behavioral sciences and identifies a research agenda for the coming decade. This report offers a blueprint for the next decade of behavioral and social science research to reduce the negative impact of dementia for America's diverse population. Reducing the Impact of Dementia in America calls for research that addresses the causes and solutions for disparities in both developing dementia and receiving adequate treatment and support. It calls for research that sets goals meaningful not just for scientists but for people living with dementia and those who support them as well. By 2030, an estimated 8.5 million Americans will have Alzheimer's disease and many more will have other forms of dementia. Through identifying priorities social and behavioral science research and recommending ways in which they can be pursued in a coordinated fashion, Reducing the Impact of Dementia in America will help produce research that improves the lives of all those affected by dementia.

A book primarily for healthy people who want to ... avoid getting Alzheimer's disease.

The understanding of how to reduce risk factors for mental disorders has expanded remarkably as a result of recent scientific advances. This study, mandated by Congress, reviews those advances in the context of current research and provides a targeted definition of prevention and a conceptual framework that emphasizes risk reduction. Highlighting opportunities for and barriers to interventions, the book draws on successful models for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, injuries, and smoking. In addition, it reviews the risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, alcohol abuse and dependence, depressive disorders, and conduct disorders and evaluates current illustrative prevention programs. The models and examination provide a framework for the design, application, and evaluation of interventions intended to prevent mental disorders and the transfer of knowledge about prevention from research to clinical practice. The book presents a focused research agenda, with recommendations on how to develop effective intervention programs, create a cadre of prevention researchers, and improve coordination among federal agencies.

Dreaded by many people as an inevitable part of normal aging, Dementia has displaced Cancer as the most feared health problem. Cancer continues to be a serious condition, but it is often curable, and almost always treatable. In contrast, the fear of dementia is complicated by the fear of ageing, and by muddled thinking about its relationship with Alzheimer's disease. Yet, there is no reason to be disheartened. Ever-evolving scientific evidence means that we can be increasingly optimistic about the future, and on-going research shows that the problems we dread- dementia, disability and dependency- can be controlled. By taking steps to limit damage to the brain caused by stress, sleep problems, and inactivity throughout our lives, it is more than possible to substantially reduce your risk of dementia. Equally, a loss of physical fitness (which starts long before old age) is preventable. Based on research from the Optimal Ageing Programme, and full of practical, evidence-based advice on managing the major risk factors underpinning dementia, this book will inspire readers to fight back against the modern environment and negative societal attitudes. Through simple but effective lifestyle changes that anyone can make, everyone can take positive action to increase their brainability. It is never too late to change your life, reduce your risk, and live better for longer.

The National Institutes of Health - and many other organizations and individuals worldwide - are interested in the state of the science on preventing Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and age-related cognitive decline. This letter report reviews the evidence on interventions to decrease the risk of developing clinical Alzheimer's-type dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and delay or slow age-related cognitive decline. It also makes recommendations that inform public health messaging on preventative interventions and recommendations for future research.

"As you have grown older, you may have noticed changes in your memory. You might find yourself walking into a room and forgetting why you are there. It might be more difficult to remember the name of someone you just met. You may also notice that it takes longer to come up with words in conversation"--