Growing older is a road we all head down, but preventing the potential of the onset of Alzheimer’s is a valid concern. There are upwards of 5 million people in the United States with Alzheimer’s. That equates to someone developing the disease once every 6 seconds, making it deadlier than both breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. As people are living longer, it becomes more of an issue, with deaths from Alzheimer’s increasing by 89% since 2000. Thankfully, there have been new discoveries that point to low-risk preventative measures. As more is learned about the condition, these may prove to be beneficial in preventing this debilitating disease.
Prevention may be possible
A definitive cause of the disease is still unknown with many hypotheses still being debated, but an impactful correlation has been found. Professor Chris Exley, at Keele University, has published findings that aluminum does play a role in the onset of Alzheimer’s. Reducing or eliminating potential sources of aluminum, in food packaging, cookware and avoiding antiperspirants that contain aluminum chlorohydrate may be a safe move. Be aware of workplace exposure as well. Professor Exley’s case studies noted an extremely strong correlation between early-onset Alzheimer’s and aluminum as an occupational hazard.
Active steps
Besides eliminating harmful agents, making sure that your diet contains a healthy regimen of antioxidants can help. Numerous studies have suggested that “oxidative stress” may play a role in the changes in the brain that trigger Alzheimer’s disease. The process entails chemicals called free radicals attacking brain cells. These chemicals are part of the body’s normal process of expending energy, but an imbalance may be what is causing the problems. To combat injury from this process, the body naturally creates and also acquires from food various molecules that react with free radicals, catalyzing them into less harmful compounds.
Just like vitamins, many people take supplements to provide the body with a healthy supply of antioxidants. Oftentimes derived from compounds found in the core wood of fragrant trees such as sandalwood and the Indian kino tree, they help with a broad range of issues, from blood sugar levels to reducing inflammation. As usual with health maintenance, practices that help in one area tend to have positive consequences elsewhere.
It may be years or decades before conclusive evidence is found on the causes and treatments for Alzheimer’s. But time isn’t standing still for any of us. The good news is that with new findings science is just starting to develop, there are clear measures you can take that may have a profound impact as time goes on.
