Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It affects parts of the brain responsible for thinking, memory, and language. Memory problems are one of the earliest warning signs of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Over time, individuals with the Alzheimer’s disease may lose the ability to engage in conversations and respond to their surroundings, significantly impacting their ability to perform daily activities.

Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. In addition to memory problems, individuals with Alzheimer’s may experience one or more of the following:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as getting lost in familiar places or repeatedly asking the same questions.

• Difficulty managing money and paying bills.

• Struggling with routine tasks at home or work.

• Misplacing items in unusual locations and being unable to find them.

• Changes in mood, personality, or behavior, including increased irritability, fear, or suspicion in common situations.

• Problems with balance and misjudging distances, leading to frequent stumbling, hitting things over, or spilling or dropping things often.

• Difficulty following or joining conversations and struggling to find the right words (e.g., saying "the thing on my wrist that tells time" instead of "watch").

• Withdrawal from work or social activities due to difficulty keeping up.

Scientists are studying the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and are developing effective treatments. Following healthy lifestyle behaviors can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Healthy habits such as staying physically active, following a healthy diet, and quitting smoking or excessive alcohol consumption can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

•  Elevated blood pressure.

•  Lack of physical activity and obesity.

•  Diabetes.

•  Depression.

•  Smoking.

•  Hearing loss.

•  Drinking alcohol heavily.

You can help lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by making healthy lifestyle choices. Here are some tips you can consider:

• Control hypertension to protect brain function.

• Regulate blood glucose levels to prevent diabetes-related cognitive decline.

• Maintain a healthy weight to support overall well-being.

• Stay physically active, as exercise improves thinking, reduces the risk of depression and anxiety, and promotes better sleep.

• Quit smoking, as it helps protect brain health and lowers the risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related conditions.

• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption to protect brain function.

• Prevent and correct hearing loss, as untreated hearing impairment is linked to an increased risk of dementia.

• Ensure adequate sleep, as sleep plays a vital role in cognitive health.

If making all these changes at once seems difficult, try incorporating them gradually. Even small changes, such as getting an extra 30 minutes of sleep each night, scheduling an annual physical check-up, or going for a daily walk, can significantly improve your cognitive health.

• Follow a healthy diet, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, shellfish, nuts, olive oil, healthy fats, berries, and turmeric.

• Increase social engagement by spending as much time as possible outside your home.

• Engage in mental exercises to keep the brain active, which may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Beneficial activities include:

- Listening to the radio.

- Reading newspapers.

- Solving puzzle games and crossword games.

- Visiting museums.

- Learning a new language.

Mental exercises help build additional neural pathways in the brain, making it easier and faster for vital information to be processed.