Slowly losing your faculties can be a terrifying thing, especially if it’s an inevitable part of growing old. More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, but certain factors can delay the onset of the dreaded condition — or even completely stop it in its track.
1. Clear Vision
Your eyes are more than just the windows to your soul. They are your windows to the world. Vast amounts of information and stimulus enter your eyes and flow to your brain. Vision constitutes the majority of stimuli and processed information. Cutting off this channel will vastly limit the amount of processing your mind undergoes every single moment, increasing its chances of stagnating.
2. Connections
Keep in touch with family and friends. Strong social relationships are emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Everyday conversations keep your mind sharp, especially for in-depth discussions that go further than the usual greetings. Talk about politics, the latest movies, or the good old days; any form of conversation and social interaction stimulates your mind and strengthens your neural connections.
3. Exercise
Getting physical keeps your heart healthy and increases blood flow to the brain. Exercise also sends massive amounts of stimuli and information to your brain. It keeps your reflex sharp and improves your dynamic vision. Faster reflexes correlate to how fast your brain can process critical data.
4. Clean Living
Years of smoking and drinking can take a toll on your rain. While drinking a beer or two is fine, habitual binge-drinking or heavy alcohol consumption can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s. Smoking is even worse, as smokers have double the chances of developing Alzheimer’s than their non-smoking counterparts. Thankfully, the effects of alcohol and tobacco in the body are somewhat reversible.
5. Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for everyone, especially seniors. Sleep allows the brain to recharge and heal, allowing your lymphatic system to work. This system is an integral part of your nervous system, regulating vasculature impairments, removing toxins, and circulating neurotransmitters.
6. Proper Diet
Obesity can lead to a multitude of health problems, two of which are heart problems and diabetes. Decreased blood flow to the brain can impede its function and lead to permanent damage, while diabetes disrupts the lymphatic pathways, resulting in cognitive decline or diabetes-induced dementia. Maintaining a proper diet can minimize your chances of developing diabetes or obesity-related heart problems. While you’re at it, add a bit of Vitamin D into your diet as it is proven to enhance cognitive functions.
7. Simple Logic Puzzles
Solving crosswords, Sudoku puzzles, or even just searching for words in one of those sizeable Pennydell puzzle books can be enough to keep your mind sharp enough to ward off Alzheimer’s. Puzzles involve critical thinking, attention to detail, and the processing of fine visual stimuli. They are like weights and exercise for your brain; they require a bit of effort, but the results can be clearly seen.
It doesn’t take a lot to ward off Alzheimer’s. With a keen mind, you can live your life without worrying about losing your faculties and forget about Alzheimer’s.
