Diseases and conditions

Alzheimer (Dementia) Dos and Don'ts

Prevention center

Alzheimer Dos and Don'ts: Tips and Lifestyle Changes

What you should Do for Alzheimer (Dementia)

Healthy eating for Alzheimer: healthy foods on a plate including avocado, tomatoes, chicken, and vegetables.

Healthy eating

Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grain, fish, and olive oil in your diet. These foods are rich in important nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and promote brain health.

Exercise regularly for Alzheimer: middle age woman doing sports exercise on a mat with a group of women.

Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity including cardio and strength training can reduce the risks of developing Alzheimer’s.

It can even slow the progression of the disease because exercise improves blood circulation to the brain and provides necessary nutrition and oxygen to the cells that need it.

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Stimulate thinking

Reading and thinking will stimulate your memory and cognitive abilities, slowing down Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Individuals who challenge their brain by learning new things are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Older adults who take part in mental training can improve their cognitive functioning.

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Schedule a time for meals

You must schedule specific times for meals because patients might forget if they have eaten.

Begin early retirement for Alzheimer: senior couple walking outdoor, enjoying their time.

Begin early treatment

Treatment for Alzheimer’s should start as soon as possible to delay the progression and reduce the symptoms of the disease.

Early detection and treatment stop further brain cell degeneration and can help avoid further escalation of the situation.

 

Keep daily objects in same place for Alzheimer: different objects placed and well organized next to each other.

Keep objects in same place

Alzheimer’s patients tend to forget things more often. It helps to keep the objects they use on a daily basis in the same place, so it’s easier for them to remember where they are.

It also helps to keep objects in places that they can easily reach.

Engage in social activities for Alzheimer: two elderly couples hanging out and spending good times together.

Engage in social activities

To protect oneself against dementia, it’s important to stay socially active and avoid social isolation.

You can take part in activities such as taking volunteering, joining a social club or going out with friends.

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Sleep well

You must get at least 8 hours of sleep per night, to maintain a healthy brain. Poor sleep may aggravate Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Manage stress for Alzheimer: a woman pressing on a stress ball in front of a desk.

Manage stress

Stress can increase the risk or progression of Alzheimer’s disease because it causes parts of the brain to shrink.

To maintain the brain’s cellular growth, you must learn how to manage your stress levels.

Manage overall health for Alzheimer: beautiful woman looking good and healthy, sitting in the park.

Manage overall health

Lowering both your cholesterol levels and blood pressure is good for the brain because high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Chew gum for Alzheimer: a middle age woman chewing gum and blowing a bubble balloon.

Chew gum

Studies show that chewing gum increases the level of arousal and alertness during a cognitive test and increases blood flow to the brain.

Dark chocolate for Alzheimer: pieces of dark chocolate stacked on top of each other.

Dark chocolate

Research suggests that cocoa is beneficial for Alzheimer’s because it contains flavonoids that can increase blood flow for 2 or 3 hours after you eat it.

 

Keep things organized and safe for Alzheimer: different objects well organized and placed on a desk.

Keep things organized and safe

Don’t leave objects on the floor. Always keep passages smooth and turn on the lights in all the rooms. Make sure floors are not slippery to reduce the risk of falling.

If you have slippery floors, use non-slippery carpeting or mats, especially in the bathroom.

What you should Avoid for Alzheimer (Dementia)

Avoid smoking for Alzheimer: Man smoking a cigarette standing in front of a wall.

Avoid smoking

You must quit smoking. People who smoke have an 80% increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

A lot of research has proven that smoking is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, recent research has rejected the association between smoking and Alzheimer’s.

 

Avoid long exposure to pesticides: man fully covered and wearing a mask, spraying pesticides in the garden.

Avoid pesticides

You must avoid long exposure to pesticides. They can have toxic effects on the central nervous system, leading to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders.

Avoid gaining weight for Alzheimer: overweight woman taking picture outdoor.

Avoid gaining weight

You must watch what you eat because weight gain could negatively affect brain function and lead to Alzheimer’s.

This is because being overweight decreases blood flow to the brain, and nutrients become unable to nourish the brain properly.

Avoid excess alcohol for Alzheimer: man standing behind a bar full of alcohol.

Avoid excess alcohol

Excessive drinking can cause the hippocampus, the area associated with memory and reasoning in the brain, to shrink. 

It can also accelerate the brain’s aging process, leading to Alzheimer’s disease or speeding up its progression.

Limit caffeine for Alzheimer: cup of coffee filled with roasted coffee beans.

Limit caffeine

Previous research suggested limiting your caffeine intake as it can worsen the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

However, more recent research refutes these claims and recommends consuming caffeine to fight dementia.

Avoid excess iron supplements for Alzheimer: different iron supplements in different colors, on a table.

Avoid excess iron

Avoid iron supplementation because excess iron might be associated with increased Alzheimer disease.  

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