Keeping Your Brain Sharp

Considering the sorts of stories he's written over a decades-long career, you might not think that Stephen King is afraid of anything. While you are right that he doesn't tremble at the thought of monsters, there is one thing he fears—Alzheimer's disease.

It's no wonder that even the King of Horror (no pun intended) is wary. Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, impairs the memories and thinking skills of over 7 million people in the U.S. The disease can also lead to mood changes and confusion, and it's the fifth-leading cause of death of people 65 and older.

While many believe aging is the cause of Alzheimer's, that is not the case. However, risks do increase as we get older—doubling every five years after our 65th birthdays.

Though some risk factors, like genetics, are beyond our control, there are aspects of our health we can manage to potentially lower our risk, such as:

Protecting your brain physically. Head injuries have a known link to an increased risk of dementia. Therefore, it is important to protect your brain by wearing a helmet when playing sports and a seat belt when in a moving vehicle.

Managing your heart health. Studies show that the brain and heart are closely connected. In fact, any damage to the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes, also can increase the risk of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

Following guidelines for overall health and longevity. According to a recent study, people who engaged in all six of these health behaviors—eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, getting 150 or more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week, maintaining a body mass index of less than 30 and getting 6 to 9 hours of sleep per night—cut their risk of dementia by half.

Challenging yourself. A recent analysis of 38 studies found that older adults who read, write or even make crafts have a 23% lower risk of developing dementia. Pursuing new hobbies, taking classes and playing strategy games are also great ways to stay mentally active.

Staying social. Spending time with friends and family can help reduce the risk of dementia by preventing social isolation. Studies show that socially active seniors experience slower cognitive decline, while those who feel isolated have up to a 50% increased risk of dementia.

Sounds like a good excuse to get out and about with some friends. Or a sign to read a little Stephen King.

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