| Many countries in the world are facing a potential | | | | pressure to lower the risk of stroke. If we |
| health crisis as the population ages. In North | | | | develop diabetes, we need to strictly control our |
| America, millions of Baby Boomers are turning | | | | blood sugar levels to minimize the damage that |
| sixty every day. Aging can bring with it many | | | | Alzheimer's disease might cause. |
| benefits such as increased wisdom and | | | | Other types of lifestyle changes are associated |
| experience, but aging also increases the risk of | | | | with better brain health in old age. For example, |
| serious health problems affecting the body and | | | | people who continue to use their brains actively in |
| the brain. | | | | old age are more likely to have good brain |
| One of the most serious health problems facing | | | | function. This may be because their brain cells |
| people as they get older is the increased risk of | | | | keep making new connections with each other. To |
| dementia. Dementia is a word used to cover a | | | | keep your brain active, take classes, read a lot, |
| variety of different types of loss of brain | | | | and take up new hobbies that are mentally |
| function. The most well known type of dementia | | | | challenging. |
| facing older people is Alzheimer's disease. | | | | Physical exercise also appears to have an |
| Alzheimer's disease leads to an irreversible | | | | important effect in maintaining brain health in our |
| destruction of brain cells. At the same time, the | | | | later years. You don't need to be running |
| types of neurotransmitters the brain needs in | | | | marathons to keep your brain cells healthy, but |
| order to think and remember are also destroyed. | | | | you should make a commitment to get regular |
| Over a period of years, the patient suffering | | | | exercise several times a week. If you choose a |
| from Alzheimer's disease progresses from a state | | | | form of exercise you really enjoy, you will be |
| of mild forgetfulness to a profound loss of | | | | much more likely to stick with the program. |
| intellect. This is accompanied by an inability to think | | | | There is some evidence that a diet that includes a |
| and remember. The sense of identity is lost. | | | | lot of fresh fruits and vegetables may be |
| Forms of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease | | | | protective against Alzheimer's disease. Fresh fruits |
| are one of the main reasons why many senior | | | | and vegetables contain a lot of antioxidants that |
| citizens are unable to live independently. | | | | can help prevent free radical damage. More high |
| At the present time, there is no known cause of | | | | quality omega 3 oils from sources such as flax |
| Alzheimer's disease, and unfortunately, there is no | | | | seed and ocean fish may also be beneficial to |
| known cure. A variety of medications are | | | | brain cells. |
| currently prescribed to try slow down and offset | | | | Finally, people who have healthy brains in old age |
| some of the forgetfulness that Alzheimer's | | | | are likely to be those who have maintained good |
| causes. Many other potential medications for | | | | social and emotional connections with a variety of |
| Alzheimer's are in the experimental stages. | | | | friends and family members. People who have |
| Although Alzheimer's can't be cured or prevented | | | | little social contact and who are socially isolated |
| by medication at the present time, scientists who | | | | are more likely to suffer a decline in their brain |
| study brain aging have discovered that in many | | | | health. |
| cases, the health of our aging brains can be | | | | Although at the present time, scientists can't |
| improved by the life style choices we make. | | | | reverse the brain damage that Alzheimer's |
| The brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease | | | | causes, some simple and pleasant life style |
| appears to increase with the incidence of stroke | | | | changes may help you successfully maintain a |
| and diabetes. We can reduce the chance of brain | | | | healthy brain, body and mind as you grow older. |
| damage from Alzheimer's by controlling our blood | | | | |