Avoid Alzheimer’s later by doing these two things right now

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February 13, 2017 6:47 PM

Research from UCLA suggests protecting your brain might be as easy as safeguarding your body.

Push up exercise

Protecting your brain might be as easy as safeguarding your body: Exercise and healthy eating may ward off Alzheimer’s disease, research from UCLA suggests.

In the study, people who ate a Mediterranean diet—rich in fish, lots of vegetables, and healthy fats—and reported at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week had lower levels of brain plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s than those who didn’t hit those benchmarks.

There are several reasons why this might be, according to researcher David Merrill, M.D., Ph.D.

Physical activity, particularly aerobic, improves blood flow to the brain, decreases systemic inflammation that can damage brain health, and creates more connections between brain cells.

Exercise also promotes the survival of brain cells—and that’s crucial as you age, since Alzheimer’s is characterized by progressive death of those cells, says Dr. Merrill. A Mediterranean diet also reduces inflammatory reactions that can cause brain plaque and tangles.

The more of these factors you follow, the less likely you may be to develop Alzheimer’s years later, says Dr. Merrill.

Your move, then, is to make healthy eating and exercise a lifestyle you can follow.

Shoot for at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, and eat a diet rich in vegetables, lean protein, omega-3 fats like fish and low in processed or sugary foods. That should help keep your weight in a healthy range, which is also protective, too, the study found.

For added protection, try these 10 Everyday Tips to Boost Brainpower to keep your mind extra sharp.

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