According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2023, “the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing — and growing fast. More than 6 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s”. It is frightening to think that 1 in 3 seniors in America dies with some form of Alzheimer’s and that the disease is responsible for more deaths than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined! Statistics also show that the lifetime risk for Alzheimer’s at age 45 is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 10 for men.

Staggering financial and emotional costs accompany these numbers. Over 11 million Americans provided unpaid care for Alzheimer’s or other dementia patients last year, spending over 18 billion hours, which translates into more than 345 billion dollars value for the time. While deaths from heart disease between 2000 and 2019 have decreased by 7.3%, deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease during the same period have increased by 145%.

If you live in America today, you most likely know at least one person suffering from Alzheimer’s. So, it is common, as we age, to fear the disease, and to want to know what we can do to prevent its onset.

Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia occupies the attention of so many Americans, and nearly everyone knows someone who is suffering from the disease, or who is affected by it. Personally, we want to know what we can do to prevent it in our own lives, and practically, we want to know how we can best provide care for family members.

The answers aren’t simple or universal, especially when dealing with family members who already show signs and symptoms of the disease, but answers begin with an understanding of Alzheimer’s and its signs and symptoms.

The disease affects memory, thinking processes, decision-making, skill performance, task completion, and personality and behavioral changes. These usually include depression, mood swings, social withdrawal, poor sleep habits, delusions and imagined events and conversations, loss of items, personality changes, loss of interest in social contact, aggressive behavior, anger, distrust, and bouts of aimless wandering.

The stages of Alzheimer’s Disease can range from mild to moderate to severe, and as the disease progresses, function and activity diminish, and the strain on family and caretakers progressively increases.

There are medications that have moderate degrees of effectiveness in diminishing symptoms during mild and moderate disease stages, particularly cholinesterase inhibitors that improve cognitive and behavioral symptoms.

Studies have shown that mood has a large effect on the development and progression of the disease. A positive mindset and attitude throughout life in response to stressful and negative events has been scientifically linked to lower incidences of Alzheimer’s Disease.

There are several lifestyle changes that are linked to lower incidence of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and all of these are also known to promote health and longevity:

• Adopting a Mediterranean Diet filled with vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, seafood, olive oil, whole grains, and occasional meats
• Strong sleep habits with regular sleep times and 7-9 hours daily
• Regular daily movement and exercise
• No smoking
• Moderate alcohol
• Good oral hygiene and gum health
• Strong family and social connections
• Purposeful living
• Spirituality and recognition of a higher power

Many studies support these factors as being key in helping to avoid Alzheimer’s and dementia. In fact these same factors are common findings in the “Blue Zone” areas of the world where people live into their 100’s more than anywhere else. Each of these can be incorporated into our own lives to enhance our personal longevity and vitality. These all are also beneficial for mild to moderate cases of Alzheimer’s in helping their bodies fight the effects of the disease. The biggest challenge lies in caring for loved ones who have symptoms. Professional help is highly recommended.

For more in-depth information on Alzheimer’s, visit www.alz.org.