Preventing Alzheimer's Disease - what you can do

Up to 21 million people in the UK have friends or family living with Alzheimer’s disease or some form of dementia affecting their memory, communication, thought and personality. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there will be 850,000 people with dementia in the UK by 2015. By 2025, that figure is expected to reach a million.

Risk factors

There are a range of factors that affect a person’s risk of dementia. Age is the most obvious – one person in every six over the age of 80 is affected by some form of dementia – and genes also play a role. However, a growing body of research suggests that suggests that risk factors for cardiovascular disease – including poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and high blood pressure – may also be risk factors for dementia. In other words, there are a number of steps that you can take to help reduce your risk or delay the onset of dementia.

Eating well

Food plays an important part in keeping your brain healthy. For example, recent research shows that people on a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit and green veg, fish and olive oil were at a reduced risk of developing a decrease in brain function and Alzheimer’s disease.

Other brain-healthy foods include whole grains (such as brown rice, brown pasta and tortillas), tomatoes, blueberries and broccoli. Pumpkin seeds are high in valuable zinc, while nuts, eggs, olives, and asparagus contain plenty of vitamin E, which is linked to improved brain function.

Staying active

Exercise is great at any age: it helps increase blood flow to the brain, helps to maintain old neural connections and stimulates the creation of new ones. In fact, a major study conducted at Cardiff University indicated that exercise may be the most important factor in reducing a person’s risk of dementia.

The Cardiff University study recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day, five days a week. This doesn’t need to be intense either – it could even involve everyday activities such as walking to the shops or cycling to work. Swimming is a great form of low-impact exercise that’s suitable for people of varied health levels.

Being social

Repeated studies have pointed to a link between healthy brain function among older people and an active social and mental life. You can get lots of social stimulation by getting involved in volunteer work or social clubs at any age, while reading, writing and even brain teasers can help keep your mind active.

Get checked

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, only 44 per cent of people with dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive a diagnosis of their condition. While there is currently no cure, certain medications can help to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Even receiving a diagnosis can help you and your family adapt to life with the condition.

Tesco Health & Wellbeing

Tesco Health & Wellbeing is a free service that helps people to live a healthy lifestyle. For expert advice and support to eat well, stay active and mind your wellbeing, visit www.tescohealthandwellbeing.com