1. Exercise Your Body
Evidence suggests that regular exercise has a profound effect on the mental health of aging individuals. Even light activities, such as walking, promote improved blood flow, which in turn helps the brain support the growth of new brain cells and maintain existing ones. While scientists are careful to point out that there is no direct evidence that physical exercise can outright prevent Alzheimer's disease, it does appear to significantly delay its onset.
2. Exercise Your Mind
A recent scientific study found a clear link between brain stimulation and delaying the onset of dementia-related diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer's. In the study, mice of varying ages were genetically manipulated to grow brains with the tangles and plaques found in Alzheimer's patients. Then, the mice were split into two groups: one that learned new tasks, and one that didn't. A year later, the mice in the group that learned new tasks had plaque and tangle levels that were 60 percent lower than their non-learning counterparts. The lesson: keeping your mind sharp as you age by doing puzzles, playing strategy games, learning languages, taking classes or any number of other educational activities promotes long-term mental health.
3. Eat a Proper Diet
Beyond the standard, basic advice of keeping cholesterol and blood pressure down by eating a low-sodium, low-fat, high-nutrient diet, studies link certain foods with decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and delaying its onset. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may lower an aging person's risk of developing many diseases. Antioxidants protect cells from harmful free radicals, and can protect healthy brain cells and delay dementia-related symptoms. Eat plenty of berries, peaches, plums, mangoes and melons and supplement with the occasional glass of red wine.
