Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, can have a significant impact on a person’s life. Conditions like Alzheimer’s affect a person’s cognitive abilities, and without professional help from a memory care community, they can be complicated. The good news is that certain lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of developing this condition.
Regular physical exercise, like running, can be an extremely helpful way to lower your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Exercise helps boost blood flow to the brain and helps keep you healthy in all kinds of ways. A healthy lifestyle can make a big difference!
What Is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia, a group of neurodegenerative disorders known for affecting a person’s cognitive ability. These conditions all affect the brain in different ways, often leading to the death of brain cells. Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia are also progressive—meaning that once symptoms begin to develop, they continue progressing and worsening.
- Confusion
- Forgetfulness and memory issues
- Behavioral and personality changes
- Difficulty in performing familiar tasks
- Communication problems
- Wandering
Typically, this condition affects people over the age of 65. It can sometimes develop when you’re younger, but this is rare.
Why Does Alzheimer’s Develop?
Alzheimer’s is closely linked to the accumulation of 2 different proteins in the brain: tau and beta-amyloid proteins. They cause buildups of plaques and tangles that kill off other brain cells, leading to a decline in cognitive function.
While the exact cause of these buildups isn’t fully understood, there are a few risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. These include:
- Genetic predisposition
- Family history
- Your overall cardiovascular health
- Certain lifestyle factors like alcohol intake or smoking
- Certain medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
However, it’s important to note that one or more of these risk factors doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop the condition. Instead, it just raises the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s.
Can You Prevent Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s—and all other types of dementia—is an extremely complex condition. While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent it, you can make a few lifestyle changes to lower your odds. These can include:
- Following a balanced diet
- Staying mentally active
- Getting enough quality sleep
- Managing stress levels appropriately and safely
And one of the most important steps you can take? Regular physical exercise.
Does Exercise Help Prevent Alzheimer’s?
Regularly exercising is an extremely important part of living a healthy life. It’s linked to all kinds of health benefits. From improving your heart health to strengthening your muscles and joints, exercise is crucial to staying healthy.
And it’s actually linked to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease as well! People who regularly exercise have a lower chance of developing Alzheimer’s by almost 50%.
While this isn’t fully understood, it’s believed that it’s due to how regular exercise increases blood flow in the body—especially to the brain. It promotes the growth of new healthy cells and boosts the body’s natural regeneration process when you’ve slowed down. It also helps to reduce inflammation and stress levels, which likely contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s.
This makes regular exercise even more important for staying healthy. Don’t worry—you don’t need to spend hours at the gym every day. Instead, you can always just go for a simple run to get your heart rate up. Your brain will thank you.
How to Help Someone with Alzheimer’s
If a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it’s important that you find them the right type of care. This condition is extremely complicated and can be a lot to handle on your own. That’s when memory care can be an excellent option,
In memory care—like our community here at Fox Trail Memory Care—your loved one gets to live in a home-style, fully furnished apartment. There are teams of experienced caregivers with extensive training in supporting older adults with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
These communities focus on creating a safe, engaging environment where every resident receives personalized care. The community helps with:
- Assisting with activities of daily living
- Memory-enhancing programs and exercises
- Support therapy programs
- Diet and medication management
By choosing a memory care community, you can help your loved one live a happy and fulfilled lifestyle while surrounded by a team of trained caregivers.
Is Memory Care Right for Your Loved One?
If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or any other type of dementia, reach out to our team at Fox Trail Memory Care. We’re here to support you and your family and help your loved one get the care they deserve. We’re here to answer any of your questions, so request a visit with us today!
