Alzheimer's Disease
01 Introduction
September 21st is World Alzheimer’s day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of Alzheimer's disease, one of the most prevalent forms of dementia. In this edition of Inside Longevity, we’ll cover the causes of this age-related disease, as well as ways to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
02 The brain as we age
Did you know that the overall volume of our brain already starts to shrink in our 30s and 40s, with the rate of brain shrinkage further accelerating around age 60? The frontal cortex (the region involved in short-term memory and executive thinking) and the hippocampus (the brain region involved in memory) shrink the most as decades pass.
This brain shrinkage goes hand-in-hand with a slow but steady decline in cognitive prowess. We start to forget more and find it more difficult to come up with words.
03 Loss of proteostasis
Loss of proteostasis is one of the ten root causes of aging and one that plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease. Over time, increasing amounts of proteins accumulate inside and outside of our cells. These proteins should be cleaned up, and when they aren’t, they interfere with the cells’ proper functioning.
These protein heaps or clumps eventually grow so big that they hinder the proper functioning of cells. Too much protein accumulation can lead to “proteotoxicity” and even the demise of the cell.
领英推荐
04 Healthy brain food
Food is very important for your brain. Your brain uses ten times more energy than normal tissues do and needs large amounts of nutrients to function properly. Eating well will make you feel better, think better, and be Younger For LongerTM, staving off not just Alzheimer’s disease but also depression and anxiety.
In fact, nutrition is the best technology we have to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Eating blue and red fruit (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc.), green leafy vegetables (kale, cabbage, broccoli, etc.), and dark chocolate are just some foods you need to eat to keep your brain at its best.
05 Take good care of your sleep
Not having enough high-quality sleep is associated with accelerated aging, and increases the risk of various diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and depression. Improve your sleeping habits by going to bed at the same hour, ideally before midnight, and try to sleep for seven to nine hours.
Strengthen your circadian rhythm and improve your sleep quality by walking outside for 20 to 30 minutes at the same time each morning.
06 NOVOS CEO Chris Mirabile on the podcast Oh, My Health...There Is Hope!
In this episode, host Jana Short and NOVOS CEO Chris Mirabile discuss how surviving life might be more challenging than you might think and how, with education and science, we are able to start flipping the switch on aging and learning to thrive longer.