How to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Considering that November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, it might be time to start thinking about how to prevent Alzheimer’s in your daily lifestyle choices. As we know, there is not a known cause of Alzheimer’s, nor has a cure been found. 

Here is what you can do to help prevent this disease: 

Prevent and manage high blood pressure. Johns Hopkins University researchers found that the use of potassium-sparing diuretics reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s by nearly 75 percent. 

Manage blood sugar. A normal blood sugar level is 99 mg/dL or lower. A blood glucose meter can be used to track your sugar levels. 

Be physically active.Aim to do 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week, such as swimming or a quick walk. 

Avoid excessive drinking. Excessive drinking may lead to impaired judgment, confusion or memory loss. If you drink, do so in moderation. 

Prevent and correct hearing loss.The use of hearing aids will help prevent hearing loss, which can lead to Alzheimer’s. 

Get enough sleep.Poor sleep contributes to abnormal levels of beta-amyloid protein in the brain, which could lead to the amyloid plaques found in the Alzheimer’s brain. 

If it is overwhelming to make all these changes at once, try them gradually. For example, getting an extra 30 minutes of sleep at night, having an annual physical exam done, or by simply taking a walk every day may make a big difference to cognitive health.