These numbers are nothing if not alarming: Alzheimer’s disease is wiping out the memories of 4.5 million Americans, and 350,000 join their ranks each year.
Research has proven, however, that there are precautions we can take. A few of these precautions are things we should be doing anyway:
- Drink more fruit juice or vegetable juice. In a 10 year study at the University of South Florida, researchers found that men and women who drank juice at least 3 times a week had a 75% lower risk of dementia. 75%! It has to be juice, though, as eating fruits and vegetables didn’t affect the dementia risk one way or another. Buy the juice. Drink the juice.
- Exercise. Again, this is something we should be doing in the first place. But it turns out that exercise is as good for us neck up as it is neck down. Exercise sends blood to the brain, improving memory. So turn on the music, turn on the energy, and turn on the brain cells.
- Floss Daily. (Oops, they got me! I rarely remember to do this one.) Swedish and American researchers found that those who had gum disease had a much higher risk of Alzheimer’s. Bacteria from the mouth may cause chronic inflammation, which could impede blood flow to the brain. I bet I’ll never forget to floss again!
Simple steps. But they won’t do us any good if we don’t take them…even the flossing.
Make each moment count double,
~Joi
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