Page 23 - Leisure Living Magazine Holiday 2016

Alzheimer’s Disease -
An Ounce of Prevention
By Theresa Bowen, Ph.D., Email: theesajb@gmail.com
Research tells us to eat right, exercise, and keep the mind active to prevent Alzheimer’s dis- ease. Alanna Shaikh, a global health expert is taking steps to prepare for getting Alzheimer’s disease since her father was diagnosed with the disease several years ago. She is changing her lifestyle and developing several new hobbies. Since she likes to draw she is learning and doing more drawing. She is also learning origami and knitting. It does not matter if you are “good” at a hobby but only that your hands know how to do it. Caregiver training purports that the more activities the patient is involved in the easier it is for the caregiver and it may slow the progression of the disease. Also the more the “hands” can do if your brain stops working will keep the patient happier. Happy patient equals happy caregiver. This is a win-win.
According to Bob DeMarco a study conduct- ed in 2016 indicated exercise and a Mediterra- nean-type diet combined appears to be associat- ed with a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that participants who were reporting they were both exercising and following a diet closer to a Mediterranean – type diet had a 60 percent decrease in their risk for developing Alz- heimer’s disease. What is a Mediterranean diet? This diet involves a style of eating based on the Southern regions of countries that include Italy, Greece, and Spain. It is a heart-healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, olive oil, dairy products and red wine in low to mod- erate amounts. Fruits suggested are apples and bananas and nuts such as almonds and walnuts. Vegetables include spinach, eggplant, tomatoes, broccoli, baby carrots, peppers, garlic and capers. Additional tips are to use butter sparingly, substi- tute fish and poultry for red meat and limit higher fat dairy products such as whole milk, cheese, and ice cream. It is suggested to switch to skim milk, fat-free yogurt and low-fat cheese. This study was supported by the National Institute on Aging and The Journal of the American Medical Associa- tion.
Alzheimer’s disease has physical symptoms as well as cognitive symptoms. Some physical symp-
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toms include muscle tremors and loss of balance which explains why some patients become less mobile. They are simply scared to move. Alanna has taken up yoga, tai chi, and doing weight bar- ing exercises to prepare her if the disease strikes. Balance follows a “use it or lose it” principle and you can maintain your balance if you stay active. How well you keep your balance in midlife can also protect you from falls later in life.
Maria Shriver is also practicing prevention steps to lower her risk. She tries to eat well and live a healthy life by limiting her sugar intake, get- ting restorative sleep, meditating, and doing daily exercise along with mental exercise. She suggests switching off technology. For example, don’t al- ways rely on a GPS, try to memorize directions to someplace new. Instead of googling something on your smart phone, use your phone for just talking.
The final step Alanna is working on is being a better person like her dad. She insists that being a kind and loving person can shine through even when everything else is taken away from you.
Theresa Bowen, Ph.D. is an Educational Consultant and Distance Education professor. She conducts technical training for community colleges, universities, and small businesses. With over thirty-nine years’ experience in education and training she recently completed training for faculty members in Tennessee, Kansas and Arizona. Dr. Bowen has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Toledo, OH with a minor in research methods, media, and business management. Her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Arts degrees are in education from The Defiance College, Defiance, OH. When she isn’t glued to a computer she enjoys playing piano, making videos, and painting.
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