Preventing Alzheimer’s and protecting the brain is the focus of June’s Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Empowering Humanity offers these 5 tips for preventing Alzheimer’s and protecting the brain. After all, Empowering Humanity starts with the mind.
The Devastating Impact of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a leading cause of dementia and death among seniors. In 2022, more than 6 million Americans were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. That adds up to one out of every 60 Americans. Doctors estimate that number will grow to 13 million by 2030.
Causes of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is caused by a combination of genetics, lifestyle, age, and traumatic injuries. These combine together, attacking the brain’s soft tissues. These attacks leave holes like swiss cheese that erase areas where memories live. The result is the slow eating away of the ability to remember, communicate, and even care for themselves.
5 Tips for Preventing Alzheimer’s and Protecting the Brain
Little can be done about genetic heritage. However, prevention is possible. Preventing Alzheimer’s and protecting the brain begins with these 5 tips:
1. Take care of the body
Keeping the body fit and healthy is an important preventative measure. High cholesterol blocks the flow of blood to the brain’s soft tissues. The blockage prevents the brain from healing damaged areas.
Excess body fat causes fat deposits to build up on the neural pathways. These deposits block the signals between neurons, slowing or even stopping brain activity. Over time, it causes their death.
2. Keep the mind active
Participating in activities that force the brain to engage in problem-solving, such as puzzles, games, and learning new things, is another way to prevent Alzheimer’s. The more that the brain is challenged, the more neurons it grows. Those neurons keep neural pathways open by allowing the brain to replace older, damaged neurons.
3. Limit Drug and Alcohol Use
Studies show that drug and alcohol usage is a contributing factor in the development of Alzheimer’s and can accelerate the rate of progression in patients that have it. Prescription medications are no exception. Reducing or eliminating as many drugs as possible from the system is ideal.
4. Reduce Stress
It’s no secret that stress harms the brain. The stressed brain releases the hormone cortisol which disrupts neural pathways. These disruptions make rational thinking and logical decision-making harder. When stress continues for long periods of time, these neural pathways die off and begin to decay.
5. Seek Help for Depression
Extended bouts of depression contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s. The depressed brain chews through the brain’s normal supply of melatonin and depletes it. It then begins to convert serotonin into melatonin to make up for the loss. Melatonin is an important ingredient in protecting neurons from decay.
Preventing Alzheimer’s and Protecting the Brain with Empowering Humanity
Empowering Humanity offers both free and paid classes to help members prevent Alzheimer’s and protect the brain by keeping the mind active and reducing stress.