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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

Alzheimer's caregiving newsletter

Subscribe to our Alzheimer's caregiving newsletter to stay up to date on Alzheimer's topics.

Right now, there's no proven way to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Research into prevention strategies is ongoing. The strongest evidence so far suggests that you may be able to lower your risk of Alzheimer's disease by reducing your risk of heart disease. Many of the same factors that increase your risk of heart disease can also increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Important factors that may be involved include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, excess weight and diabetes.

Keeping active — physically, mentally and socially — may make your life more enjoyable and may also help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

References
  1. Middleton LE, et al. Promising strategies for prevention of dementia. Archives of Neurology. 2009;66:1210.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Alternative treatments. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_alternative_treatments.asp Accessed Nov. 5, 2010.
  5. Scarmeas N, et al. Physical activity, diet, and risk of Alzheimer disease. JAMA. 2009;302:627.
  6. 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.
  7. Grabowski TJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
  8. Press D, et al. Treatment of dementia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
  9. Shadlen M-F, et al. Risk factors for dementia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 30, 2010.
  10. What is Alzheimer's? Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
  11. Prevention. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/research/science/alzheimers_prevention_and_risk.asp. Accessed Oct. 31, 2010.
  12. Essentials of a diagnostic workup. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/professionals_and_researchers_14902.asp. Accessed Oct. 31, 2010.
  13. Basics of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_basicsofalz_low.pdf. Accessed October 31, 2010.
  14. Late stage care. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_latestage.pdf. Accessed Nov. 2, 2010.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. Medical foods. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/statements_medicalfoods.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
  19. Is it really approved? Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM143301.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
DS00161 Jan. 18, 2011

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