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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : May 28, 2014 1:41 PM IST
Specialists have revealed few simple guidelines that can help prevent deadly dementia. The steps to healthy life include cutting down the intake of saturated fats and the trans fats found in pastries and fried foods; eat lots of vegetables, legumes, fruits and whole grains; nuts to boost vitamin E; meat, salmon, cod, milk cheese or eggs to get the dose of vitamin B12, the Daily Express reported. It was also established that it is important to choose multi-vitamins which do not have iron or copper and avoid using cookware, antacids, baking powder or other products that could contribute to dietary aluminium.
Dr Neal Barnard, a leading researcher on nutrition and its impact on human health said that Alzheimer's disease isn't a natural part of ageing and by staying active and eating healthy could help in rewriting our genetic code for this heart-wrenching disease. He further suggests that brisk walking for 40 minutes three times a week, getting seven hours sleep each night and doing 30 to 40 minutes of mental activities such as crosswords is good for brain health. The research states that a perfect combination of healthy diet and regular physical exercise may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The findings are published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. (Read : Alzeimer's disease it's more common than you think)
What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative mental disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. It is the most common form of dementia and is commonly seen in the elderly. While the chances of developing the disease increase with age, it is now seen that younger people are also now being diagnosed with the disease.
During the course of Alzheimer's disease, nerve cells in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought die due to plaque deposition. Symptoms include confusion, mood swings, impaired reasoning or judgement, long-term memory loss and a gradual loss of bodily functions.Dementia is the most prominently visible symptom. People with Alzheimer's begin to have problems recognising family and friends. They also find it exceptionally difficult to learn new things, carry out tasks that involve multiple steps (like getting dressed) and cope with new situations. They might suffer from insomnia. In the more severe stages of Alzheimer's disease, the brain completely shrinks and they become increasingly dependent on others.
The diagnosis of Alzheimer's is usually based on collective symptoms and family history. Other tests that can be performed are mental status tests and radiological tests. A recent advancement in the diagnosis of the disease is the use of biomarkers. Current treatments for Alzheimer's are based on treating the symptoms but they do not eliminate the cause. The best way to slow the process and prevent it from progressing is early medical intervention. The earlier the condition is identified, the better the prognosis. Treatments include medications for memory loss and treatments for behavioural and sleep changes. Intervention therapies like reminiscence therapy, simulated presence therapy and validation theory may improve the quality of a patient's life. (Read more on alzheimer's)
With inputs from ANI
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