Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that affects a person’s ability to function independently.
There is no treatment that cures Alzheimer’s disease or alters the disease process in the brain.
The exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease aren’t fully understood.
Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells.
Although it’s still unknown what triggers Alzheimer’s disease, several factors are known to increase your risk of developing the condition such as; Age, family history, head injuries, cardiovascular diseases, untreated depression, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Symptoms
The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations.
As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will develop severe memory impairment and lose the ability to carry out everyday tasks.
Other symptoms include;
Difficulty remembering new information
Trouble organizing and planning
Confusion
Forgetfulness
Decreased thinking skills
Problems with simple arithmetic
Poor judgment
Personality changes
Mood swings
Severe memory loss
5 NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
1. Lowering stress –Â Lowering your daily levels of stress can improve your mental health, reduce inflammation, and decrease your risk of Alzheimers disease.
2. Healthy sleep – Sleep is your body’s way of resetting. Proper restful sleep allows your body and brain the time needed to restore balance to your system. This helps reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimers.
3. Improving heart health – High blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol during middle age significantly increase the risk of developing dementia later in life. A diet high in healthy fats, whole grains, fish, lean proteins, nuts, fruits, and vegetables has been shown to combat obesity, diabetes, and improve cognitive function.
4. Exercise – 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week for those over 65 is shown to protect cognitive performance. Walking 30 minutes each day increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.
5. Social interaction and an active mind – Keeping your mind active reduces the risk for cognitive decline. Learning a new activity, such as dancing, creates new pathways of communication in the brain. Acquiring new skills and reminiscing on cherished life events are excellent ways to help prevent loss of cognitive function.
Written by: Oreoluwa Hassan
