50+ Lifestyles

Alzheimer’s Association Provides Information and Resources to “Maintain Your Brain®”

To help American adults – especially baby boomers – live a brain-healthy lifestyle and potentially reduce their risk for Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Iowa Chapter offers the following information.

“People are always asking for clear guidance on what they can do to keep their brains healthy and reduce their risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease,” said Jerry Schroeder, Program Specialist of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Iowa Chapter. “We encourage people to maintain their brain health by staying physically and mentally active, eating a brain-healthy diet and remaining socially involved, which are the key aspects of maintaining your brain.”

Scientifically rooted advice on brain health is based on strong lifestyle choices, including:

• Staying sharp with challenging mental activities
• Engaging in social interactions
• Adopting a brain-healthy diet
• Remaining physically active

For more information call 563-324-1022 or visit the Association’s Web site at www.alz.org/greateriowa.

10 Ways to Maintain Your Brain®

1. Head first – Good health starts with your brain. It’s one of the most vital body organs, and it needs care and maintenance.
2. Take brain health to heart – What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. Do something every day to prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke – all of which can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s.
3. Your numbers count – Keep your body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels within recommended ranges.
4. Feed your brain – Eat less fat and more antioxidant-rich foods.
5. Work your body – Physical exercise keeps the blood flowing and may encourage new brain cells. Do what you can – like walking 30 minutes a day – to keep both body and mind active.
6. Jog your mind – Keeping your brain active and engaged increases its vitality and builds reserves of brain cells and connections. Read, write, play games, learn new things, do crossword puzzles.
7. Connect with others – Leisure activities that combine physical, mental and social elements may be most likely to prevent dementia. Be social, converse, volunteer, join a club or take a class.
8. Heads up! Protect your brain – Take precautions against head injuries. Use your car seat belts; unclutter your house to avoid falls; and wear a helmet when cycling or rollerblading.
9. Use your head – Avoid unhealthy habits. Don’t smoke, drink excessive alcohol or use street drugs.
10. Think ahead – start today! – You can do something today to protect your tomorrow.

*The Alzheimer’s Association is the world leader in Alzheimer research and support. Having awarded more than $165 million to nearly 1,400 projects, the Alzheimer’s Association is the largest private non-governmental funder of Alzheimer research. To sustain the rapid progress, the Association calls for $1 billion in annual federal funding for Alzheimer research. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, visit www.alz.org or call 800-272-3900.*