Is It Possible to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?

As one of the leading causes of dementia, Alzheimer’s is a serious neurodegenerative disorder that causes seniors to gradually lose their memory and cognitive skills. Therefore, it’s no surprise that a lot of people want to focus on preventing themselves from getting Alzheimer’s in the first place. If you’re interested in lowering your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, here are a few things you need to know. 

Is There Any Surefire Prevention Method?

As far as scientists know, there’s no definitive prevention method for Alzheimer’s disease. This is partially because Alzheimer’s disease is still not fully understood and partially because it’s so complex. Even if your aging loved one manages to avoid some things that make him or her more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, there are still other factors associated with Alzheimer’s, such as age and family medical history, that cannot be changed.

If you’re the primary caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, you don’t have to go through it alone. Without the right assistance, Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors and their families to handle. If you’re looking for professional Alzheimer’s care, Huntsville Home Care Assistance provides high-quality care aging adults and their families can count on. All of our hourly and live-in caregivers are trained to help seniors with Alzheimer’s live happier and healthier lives, and we also provide specialized dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. 

What Are Some of the Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that occurs when sticky beta-amyloid proteins build up in the brain and keep it from functioning properly. Beta-amyloid buildup is affected by a variety of factors, including overall health, environment, lifestyle, and genetics. The most definite cause of Alzheimer’s is a mutation in one of three specific genes. Only about 1 percent of all people with Alzheimer’s inherit these mutated genes, but if they do, they’ll develop Alzheimer’s. However, for most people with Alzheimer’s, things like inflammation and high blood pressure play a larger role. 

What Are the Main Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s?

In general, Alzheimer’s is associated with certain risk factors, including a lack of exercise, high blood pressure, heart damage, head injuries, lack of sleep, high stress, and excessive red meat consumption. Taking part in these activities doesn’t necessarily guarantee a person will get Alzheimer’s, but they can combine with other unavoidable or unknown causes to increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s in the senior years.

Aging adults who need help with eating healthy, exercising, and adopting a healthier lifestyle can benefit from the assistance of highly trained professional caregivers. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional senior care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Can Anything Be Done to Reduce Alzheimer’s Risks?

It might be concerning to learn there’s no foolproof way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but this doesn’t mean your loved one has to give up hope. Living a healthy lifestyle can greatly lower the chances of ending up with Alzheimer’s. The most important things to do are exercise for at least half an hour three times a week, sleep at least seven hours a night, maintain a healthy weight, and eat a diet containing a lot of fruits and vegetables and only a little red meat and alcohol. Some research also suggests that stimulating the brain can either reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s or keep it from being as severe if it does develop. Ways to keep the brain active include things like socializing with friends, reading, playing a musical instrument, solving puzzles, and learning new skills. 

If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, help is just a phone call away. Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Huntsville Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. To talk to one of our friendly Care Managers and create a customized senior care plan, call us at (256) 716-9940.