There is no doubt that there are activities people can engage in which are preventative for Alzheimer’s disease. People who exercise and stay active in social groups such as a church or other organization are much less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. To further emphasize the point, it has been shown that people who live alone are much more likely to have the disease.
Along with staying socially active, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and foods providing beneficial nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids is an important part of preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
Avoiding smoking, heavy drinking and street drugs can also keep Alzheimer’s disease at bay.
While it is clear that these lifestyle choices do help to prevent the disease, it is less sure what role they play once a person has the disease. The decision to change a lifestyle choice, such as smoking, falls to the individual and his or her caregivers.
Certainly, helping someone to stop smoking and begin an exercise program has more potential for helping than harming, but this must be weighed on an individual basis.
