{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 007 - Is it possible to prevent Alzheimer\u2019s disease?","description":"In this episode, Melissa and Dr. Erik discuss Alzheimer\u2019s disease and address the question of whether it\u2019s possible to prevent Alzheimer\u2019s disease.   What is Alzheimer\u2019s disease? Alzheimer\u2019s disease is one of several causes of dementia. The American Psychiatric Association has renamed \u201cdementia\u201d and now refers to this type of condition as \u201cNeurocognitive Disorder.\u201d Either name refers to a decline in cognitive performance. \u201cCognition\u201d is a broad term which can include things like: attention, decision-making, recognition of language, faces, or situations, learning, or memory. Dementia (or \u201cneurocognitive disorder\u201d) can have many causes and can involve many different facets of cognition. What are the symptoms of Alzheimer\u2019s disease? The most common early symptoms of Alzheimer\u2019s disease are memory loss or confusion. The tricky thing is that everyone can have memory issues or become confused from time to time. Alternately, it\u2019s also possible to have frequent forgetfulness that is entirely benign. Alzheimer\u2019s disease is a concern if memory loss happens often enough or is severe enough that it starts to interfere with daily life. Early-onset and familial cases of Alzheimer\u2019s disease Dr. Erik explains that some cases of Alzheimer\u2019s disease can begin when a person reaches their 50s. Most people who develop Alzheimer\u2019s disease at this age have a form of illness that is strongly determined by genes. The most well-known Alzheimer\u2019s disease genes cause brain cells to produce a protein called beta amyloid, which appears to be toxic and is associated with cell death in memory circuits. Slowing down the production of the beta amyloid protein is a promising opportunity for Alzheimer\u2019s disease prevention and clinical studies of drugs that may slow down beta amyloid production are underway.   Brain health tips Although we are still waiting for proven ways to prevent Alzheimer\u2019s disease, we can definitely improve our cognitive health at any time. And some of the most useful ways to protect our brains as we age revolve around reducing the risks of strokes, including so-called \u201cmini-strokes\u201d and what Dr. Erik calls \u201cmicro-strokes.\u201d Any type of stroke \u2013 whether big or tiny \u2013 causes brain cells to die. Preventing strokes is therefore a good way to preserve brain tissue. Meanwhile, exercising the brain is a good way to preserve brain function.   Here are several ways to prevent strokes: Don\u2019t smoke, or stop smoking Keep blood pressure at a healthy level Maintain a healthy weight Try to avoid developing diabetes (keeping a healthy weight and minimizing dietary sugars or carbohydrates is the best way to do this) If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels in the optimum range Head injuries can also contribute to cognitive decline. So reconsider your involvement in contact sports, hear head protection when needed, and try to avoid situations that might expose you to unnecessary head injury risk.   The bottom line about preventing Alzheimer\u2019s disease is this\u2026 It\u2019s hard to identify surefire methods for Alzheimer\u2019s disease prevention. This is simply because we understand relatively little about what causes it. And it\u2019s hard to design robust prevention strategies for things whose cause isn\u2019t all that clear. There are some treatments being studied currently that might be truly effective at preventing Alzheimer\u2019s disease risk. But we will have to wait and see what clinical trial tests show. In the meantime, focusing on whole- body health is probably the best way to promote long-term brain health.   The Paleo lifestyle What Dr. Erik calls \u201cthe paleo lifestyle\u201d might be one of the best ways to promote whole-body health and mental well-being.   Extending the concept of the \u201cpaleo diet,\u201d which suggests that the optimum human diet would be similar to the diet humans were genetically designed for, the ideal human lifestyle is designed around things that human beings were designed for: eating natural, minimally-processed foods; living in tightly-connected social groups; being physically active; and doing things that contribute to the welfare of others. These are all linked to long-term cognitive health, and are the best path to resilience, contentment, and happiness. ","author_name":"Ask A Psychiatrist","author_url":"http:\/\/www.askapsychiatrist.info","html":"