Alzheimer’s disease – prevention is better than cure

 There are times when we all forget things - like where we put our keys or sometimes what we walked into the room for, but if you are finding that you are forgetting things more often than normal, or are starting to repeat phrases and stories in a conversation, then this could be something more serious. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia and typically the most common. It is also one of the leading causes of death. This disease progresses differently in people but it commonly begins with short term memory loss. Later it can cause speech problems and issues with executive functions.

Memory changes

If your friends and family are starting to notice changes in your thinking skills and memory this could mean you could have a mild cognitive impairment. This is a slight decrease in your cognitive abilities. If this is the case you could be at an increased risk of it becoming Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia. However, if these changes start to affect your daily life or your ability to live independently it could be the onset of dementia.

If you find that you become lost and disorientated in a place that you are familiar with, or are unable to remember a situation when your memory loss was a problem when someone is telling you about then it is a big red flag it could be related to Alzheimer’s. There are other things to look out for as well such as asking the same question multiple times, having difficulty making decisions, showing poor judgement or inappropriate social behaviour and difficulty in daily tasks such as personal hygiene and paying the bills.

Memory issues like leaving the stove on, not being able to recognise familiar faces, personality changes or losing interest in activities can all be signs as well.

Preventative measures

Things that can help prevent Alzheimer's include exercise, optimising vitamin D and hormones, getting more sleep (as sleep is necessary for maintaining metabolic homeostasis in your brain). Without enough sleep, neuron degeneration sets in. Catching up on sleep during weekends will not prevent this damage. Meditation, detoxification, and dietary changes such as removing processed foods and gluten are also great preventatives. Challenging your mind daily can also help. Try learning something new such as a language or learn how to play an instrument. By doing this you are decreasing your risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.

Another way to help prevent Alzheimer’s is by optimising your gut flora. You can do this by avoiding processed foods, antibiotics and antibacterial products, fluoridated and chlorinated water. Also, intermittent fasting is great for getting your body into remembering how to burn fat and repair the insulin/leptin resistance as these are primary contributing factors for Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's can affect anyone and it is important that if we notice signs in ourselves, our friends or our families so we can seek medical advice both mainstream and natural. This clinic specialises in meditation, mindfulness, nutrition, naturopathic and dietary advice to help your mind and brain function to its optimum capacity.