About 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common
type of dementia. And it seems that the slow slide into mental decline
may begin much sooner than
previously suspected, studies reporting as early as age 45. But
there’s good news, too! Growing research suggests that you may be able
to lower your risk for dementia by making simple lifestyle changes.
Here are a few suggestions:Solve a Crossword: Hobbies that give your brain a workout—such as reading, doing crosswords, or playing chess—help build up reserves of brain cells and connections. As you age, that activity might slow down mental decline caused by altered connections in the brain.
Play an Instrument: Making music may give your brain a lifelong boost, according to a study from the University of Kansas Medical Center. The study included 70 healthy adults age 60 and up, who were divided into groups based on their musical experience. Those who had played an instrument for at least 10 years did better on tests of mental abilities than those with no musical training.
Break a Sweat: Recently,studies have shown that any activity that raises your heart rate and makes you breathe harder may reduce the risk for dementia. Once dementia has begun, exercise may slow its progress.
Phone a Friend: Staying socially engaged helps keep your brain young. And pastimes that combine mental, physical, and social activity may be especially protective against dementia. Hanging out at a cardio class where you’re working up a sweat while memorizing a complex routine is perfect.
Order the Salmon: This one is very easy. Brain scans showed that people who ate baked or broiled—not fried—fish at least once a week had better preserved gray matter in key areas of the brain. The researchers calculated that eating fish weekly cut Alzheimer’s risk by almost five-fold.
