How to Prevent Alzheimer's

     According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are approximately 6.7 million Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Year after year these statistics increase. Additionally, our knowledge about neurological diseases increases. In order to expand my own knowledge about this disease, I chose to listen to a TED Talk by Lisa Genova. I chose this topic because although there isn't a cure for Alzheimer's, Lisa Genova discussed multiple preventative measures. These steps can be taken at any stage in life, despite current habits or genetic predispositions. 

    Before describing any preventative measures, Lisa Genova gave a brief explanation of the neuroscience behind Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's develops due to an accumulation of a peptide known as Amyloid Beta. Accumulation develops into plaques and blocks our neurons from releasing neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters determine how we think, feel, and remember. Therefore, when neurotransmitters are blocked, many parts of our brain and body change. These changes usually occur slowly but can happen rapidly, depending on the size of the plaques and how many neurons are affected. 

    The first preventative measure mentioned was sleep. In fact, prolonged poor-sleep is indicative of Alzheimer's. Genova described sleep as a "deep cleanse for our brain and body." During deep sleep, our brain gets rid of excess Amyloid Beta. Simply one night of poor sleep leads to increased levels of the harmful peptide. Additionally, high levels of Amyloid Beta lead to sleep disturbances, causing a vicious, harmful cycle. 

    The second preventative measure is proper nutrition and exercise. Following nutrition and exercise guidelines decrease our risk of cardiovascular disease. It was noted that approximately 80% of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's had also been diagnosed with some form of cardiovascular disease. Although we lack knowledge in the direct correlation between the two diagnoses, it is believed that preventing cardiovascular disease may prevent Alzheimer's too. 

    The last and possibly most important preventative measure mentioned was learning a new skill. I found this topic particularly interesting because it ties directly into neuroplasticity- our brain's ability to change. Learning new skills creates and strengthens the neural connections in our brain. This means even if some connections are negatively impacted by Alzheimer's, we can form new connections in their place. New skills may include learning a new language, meeting new people, or watching an interesting documentary. The more senses your new skill incorporates, the stronger the connection will be!

    Alzheimer's is unfortunately a highly prevalent and incurable disease. However, the brain is an amazing organ, and there are multiple things we can do to prevent and slow the process of neurological degeneration! I found this podcast enjoyable and easy to understand. I would recommend this resource to anyone who is interested in learning more about Alzheimer's. 

Genova, L. (2017). What you can do to prevent Alzheimer's [Video]. TED                                                            Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_genova_what_you_can_do_to_prevent_alzheimer_s?            language=en 

Alzheimer's Association. (2023). Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimer's                                             Association.org. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-                                            figures#:~:text=More%20than%206%20million%20Americans%20of%20all%20ages%20have%20Alzheimer's,older%20(10.7%25)%20has%20Alzheimer's.