Brain Exercise to Preserve Memory

More than 4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease -- a number that’s more than doubled since 1980 and that continues to climb as the U.S. population ages. So, what can you do now to make sure you don’t become a statistic later?

By 2050, more than 13 million Americans could be living with Alzheimer's. But what you do today could keep you from becoming a statistic.

Registered dietician Tavis Piattoly, from Ochsner Clinic’s Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans, says, “I’m just a true believer … you make time for nutrition and exercise now, or you make time for disease later.”

Piattoly says one step to preserve brain power is exercise. “The brain basically works just like, you know, the rest of the body or the heart. You know, we exercise the brain. We can preserve how well it functions.”

Also, try niacin. A recent study shows people who had 22 milligrams of niacin a day had an 80-percent lower risk of Alzheimer's than those who had half that much.

Phytonutrients in leafy greens can also help. “There may be a strong link of just eating more fruits and vegetables to not only prevent risk of developing Alzheimer's but also to slow the progression of the disease,” Piattoly says.

Go for vitamin B12 and folic acid, too. In one Swiss study, those with low levels of these vitamins had four-times the rate of dementia than those with recommended levels. Fish oil also helps. Piattoly says, “Fish oil supplements decrease brain plaque by 40 percent and also decrease something called an amyloid protein by 70 percent.” Amyloid plaque is a known marker of Alzheimer’s.

“Our brain uses nutrition for energy. If we’re not getting the proper nutrition, things are not going to work properly,” Piattoly says. The bottom line? Treat your brain well, and it’s more likely to stick around.

A challenging job is another way to protect your brain. One study found people who had mentally challenging jobs in their 30s, 40s and 50s were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than their less-stimulated counterparts.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

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