Alzheimer’s disease is known as one of the most common types of dementia, in which proteins accumulate abnormally in the brain, causing memory problems and difficulty in performing daily tasks.
The exact cause of the disease is not yet known, but research reveals that many factors contribute to an increased risk of developing this degenerative condition that has no cure.
A recent study claimed that fast food can increase the risk of dementia, and that giving it up may prevent this brain damage.
The researchers found that those over the age of 60 who ate healthily were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Playing card games and meeting friends or family twice a week also helps stave off Alzheimer’s risk.
Researchers tracked the lifestyles of 29,000 adults for 10 years, examining the APOE gene, which is linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, dairy products, salt, oil, eggs, grains, legumes, nuts and tea had the strongest effect in slowing the disease. This was followed by writing, reading, playing games and physical exercise.
The decade-long study of elderly people in China concluded that a healthy lifestyle, particularly a healthy diet, was associated with slower memory decline even for carriers of the APOE gene, which is the strongest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.