Several of our more senior patients frequently ask us what they can do to stave off the onset of Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. As more and more people live longer, the unspoken and unfortunate consequence is that there is a higher occurrence of neurodegenerative conditions. Needless to say, this has our more senior patients concerned. What I (and an ever-increasing number of other doctors) tell patients is actually pretty simple – the best way to keep the brain healthy is to keep the body healthy.
An article in a recent issue of Family Practice News details a study that provides specific evidence of the link between cardiovascular fitness and the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s Disease or Alzheimer’s-related conditions. The study showed a clear relationship – as basic cardiovascular fitness levels increased, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and related conditions decreased accordingly. This connection has long been obvious to practitioners of orthomolecular medicine. Neurodegenerative conditions develop and worsen with the presence of oxidative stress in the system. Healthy activities and practices reduce oxidative stress in the body, thereby slowing the onset of loss of cognitive function.
These healthy activities go beyond simple cardiovascular fitness, however. To truly maximize the brain-saving benefits of cardiovascular fitness, individuals should also make other healthy lifestyle choices. Eat a balanced, biochemically-appropriate diet. Get plenty of sleep. Spend plenty of time with friends and loved ones. Do things that challenge you intellectually and keep your brain active, like reading, playing a musical instrument, or solving puzzles. And, of course, maintain a regular, appropriate, cardiovascular exercise regimen. All of these practices help your body (and your brain) reduce, resist, and eliminate oxidative stress, thereby reducing the onset or advancement of cognitive deterioration. Scientists tell us that the first person who will live to be 150 years old has already been born. This increase in life expectancy compels us to be more aware of those practices and lifestyle choices we can make to assure that our minds, as well as our physical bodies, are best able to thrive in our later years.