According to the Alzheimer's Association, "an estimated 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2025. Seventy-four percent are age 75 or older."
Worldwide, nearly 50 million people are living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
While there is no proven method for preventing Alzheimer’s disease, there are things we can do today that may reduce risk:
- Control high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about medications and behavior changes that may help.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage blood sugar. Talk to your doctor to learn how to reduce your risk of diabetes or better manage diabetes.
- Quit smoking.
- Get enough sleep and restful sleep. Seek treatment for sleep apnea and other factors that affect your sleep.
- Eat a healthy diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, chicken, nuts, legumes and healthy fats such as olive oil while limiting saturated fats, red meat and sugar.
- Keep physically active.
- Take care of your mental and physical health. Get help if you’re concerned about your mental or physical well-being.
- Stay socially active (e.g., meet friends and family for celebrations or even just a cup of coffee, volunteer for events you enjoy or organizations you support, join a book club or walking club).
- Stay mentally active (e.g., challenge your mind by taking classes, learning new skills, playing cards and board games, reading, or sharing your knowledge with others through a blog or podcast).
- Protect your hearing and treat hearing problems; use a hearing aid if needed.
- Avoid head trauma (e.g., wear your seat belt, wear a helmet when playing sports, and prevent falls in your home by minimizing clutter and improving lighting).
To learn more about brain health, visit alz.org.
All of these recommendations can be hard to implement in our busy lives. Reach out to your health coaches, Sara Flores and Melissa Hehmann, for the free support you deserve with creating new, healthier habits!