Is there anything you can do to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease?

"There are a few things that we can do that maybe will not, say, prevent Alzheimer's disease definitively, but may delay its onset, and slow its progression if it develops."

Dr. Ronald Petersen has three tips that research shows can help reduce your risk. No. 1 is physical activity.

"If you exercise moderately — aerobic exercise — and by that, we mean maybe 150 minutes a week. So 50 minutes three times or 30 minutes five times. Vigorous walking, swimming, jogging, if you're up to it."

No. 2 is staying intellectually active. And No. 3 is diet. "Most people now recommend the Mediterranean diet."

Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables, fish, healthy oils, whole grains, and less meat and saturated fat.

"As we gain more information about our lifestyle over our general health, I think it's important to realize that the brain is also in that picture."

July 20, 2019