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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffStudy results have been mixed about whether diet, exercise or other healthy lifestyle choices can prevent or reverse cognitive decline. But these healthy choices promote good overall health and may play a role in maintaining cognitive health, so there's no harm in including these strategies in your general wellness plan:
- Regular exercise has known benefits for heart health and may also help prevent cognitive decline. There's also some evidence that exercise may help improve mood in those with Alzheimer's.
- A diet low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables is another heart-healthy choice that also may help protect cognitive health.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are good for the heart. Most research showing a possible benefit for cognitive health uses fish consumption as a yardstick for the amount of omega-3 fatty acids eaten.
- Social engagement and intellectual stimulation may make life more satisfying and help preserve mental function.
References
- Middleton LE, et al. Promising strategies for prevention of dementia. Archives of Neurology. 2009;66:1210.
- Preventing Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement. April 26-28, 2010. http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/docs/alz/ALZ_Final_Statement.pdf. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Rusanen M, et al. Heavy smoking in midlife and long-term risk of Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. Archives of Internal Medicine. In press. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Alternative treatments. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_alternative_treatments.asp Accessed Nov. 5, 2010.
- Scarmeas N, et al. Physical activity, diet, and risk of Alzheimer disease. JAMA. 2009;302:627.
- Alzheimer's disease fact sheet. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7DCA00DB-1362-4755-9E87-96DF669EAE20/13991/ADFactSheetFINAL2510.pdf. Accessed Oct. 29, 2010.
- Grabowski TJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
- Press D, et al. Treatment of dementia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
- Shadlen M-F, et al. Risk factors for dementia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
- What is Alzheimer's? Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
- Prevention. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/research/science/alzheimers_prevention_and_risk.asp. Accessed Oct. 31, 2010.
- Essentials of a diagnostic workup. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/professionals_and_researchers_14902.asp. Accessed Oct. 31, 2010.
- Basics of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_basicsofalz_low.pdf. Accessed October 31, 2010.
- Late stage care. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_latestage.pdf. Accessed Nov. 2, 2010.
- Strobel, G. Noisy response greets revised diagnostic criteria for AD. Alzheimer Research Forum. http://www.alzforum.org/new/detail.asp?id=2522. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
- Neurological tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
- Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E0F45395-A473-4B26-8F7E-86F4314405CE/0/CaringGuide.pdf. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
- Medical foods. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/statements_medicalfoods.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
- Is it really approved? Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM143301.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
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