To first help give us some general context we can perhaps refer to the eloquence of Thomas A. Edison who said that “The chief function of the body is to carry the brain around”. While that may ring true it’s the emotional response of the brain that dictates how well or how badly it and the body are fed. By emotional response I mean to say that we are too often tempted to consume unhealthy products by how they taste, be it sweet or salty. You can read more about the impact of sugar on our mind and body in our article, which we recommend you read.
But it’s worth reminding ourselves that our brain is the most complex organ in our body and as we grow older its functions deteriorate in varying degrees.
The prospect of falling ill with Dementia and Alzheimer’s are what most people fear as they grow older.
The term Dementia is used to denote a decline in mental abilities that affects your daily life. Alzheimer’s, which worsens over time, is a brain disease that affects memory, language, and thought, and is often caused by dementia. So, a person who has Alzheimer’s will also be afflicted by dementia. But not all people with dementia have Alzheimer’s. The Mayo Clinic offers more explanation about the differences between the two.
While there are things we can do to delay the onset of old age, such as eating well and doing adequate physical and mental exercise, there is nothing we can do to prevent it from eventually happening.
We as a species are living longer than ever before due to advances in medical science and the available treatments for ailments that have traditionally affected us at an earlier age. As such, doctors have been trained in how to combat ailments and diseases and we have become used to taking the medicines they prescribe developed by the pharmaceutical industry from which the profit motive is never far away. And these medicines can often have serious side effects.
In his article as long ago as 2010 Dr Frank Lipman wrote in the Huffington Post:
“we talk about a “health care” system and health care reform, what we’re actually talking about is a “disease care” system and disease care reform. Doctors of modern western medicine are trained to treat disease with drugs and surgery. They are not trained to keep people healthy”.
And from this article in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it doesn’t seem to be getting much better despite the fact that as the authors indicate “it is far better to prevent disease than to treat people after they get sick”.
While we cannot simply diminish the value of developments in medicine, in the absence of more preventative medicine other illnesses wait in the wings. And dementia and Alzheimer’s are towards the front of the queue.
According to the National Library of Medicine, in 2022 an estimated 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and over live with Alzheimer’s dementia. This number continues to increase and could reach 13.8 million by 2060.
Globally Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI)
estimates that 75% of people with dementia are not diagnosed globally, with that rate believed to rise as high as 90% in some lower- and middle-income countries. The number of people living with dementia – estimated to stand at 55 million in 2019 – is expected to rise to 139 million in 2050, according to the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) figures.
The science now provides compelling evidence that what we eat has a fundamental impact on our health in many ways. For example, health professionals and the general public are learning that consuming excessive levels of highly processed foods can cause people to become overweight and obese, conditions that can eventually lead to ailments such as diabetes and heart disease. But perhaps fewer know that being diabetic can double the risk of getting Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders. Researchers have even proposed calling Alzheimer’s as Type 3 diabetes.
The guidelines for preventing dementia are very similar to those for a healthy heart.
Leading an active life should be a first priority as there is evidence that those who exercise regularly are less likely to develop dementia. The CDC say older adults should include exercise of at least 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week as this can prevent or delay many of the age-related health problems. Activities that includes brisk walking or jogging help to keep your muscles in shape and enables you to continue to independently carry on with normal day-to-day activities. A treadmill or rowing machine may be options. And bear in mind that as our ability to balance declines from age 50 we should regularly, and safely, stand on one foot for as long as we can because this improves balance.
Health professionals, including the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats while avoiding processed grains like white flour and white rice, added sugar, sodium, and saturated fats like butter and fatty meat. But not all of the advice may not be appropriate for those, for example, with diabetes. It may also conflict with some of the latest research that questions the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which some say may have been skewed by corporate interest.
You may also be interested in reading this article from the National Institute of Aging on what we know about diet and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Stopping smoking and minimizing alcohol intake as well as avoiding stress, being positive, and getting enough quality sleep are also prerequisites for a healthier life.
Whatever your condition you are advised to consult your physician as they will know more about your individual needs.
Dr David Perlmutter MD, a board-certified neurologist and a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, has spent years studying the brain. Among his most well-known books are the Grain Brain and the Brain Maker. He believes that we are not genetically prepared for many of the foods we have now become accustomed to eating. And the biggest culprit may be grains and the gluten they contain as it is this that can cause the most damage over time by altering our DNA without any of us realizing it. His books contain many recommendations and advice derived from long research on how to take care of the brain and achieve optimum health.