What You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's | Lisa Genova | TED

Alzheimer's doesn't have to be your brain's destiny, says neuroscientist and author of "Still Alice," Lisa Genova. She shares the latest science investigating the disease -- and some promising research on what each of us can do to build an Alzheimer's-resistant brain.

Follow TED!

[stoicfloor]

Summary:
1. Sleep well
2. Exercise well
3. Eat well
4. No unhealthy habits like smoking
5. Learn new things to create more meaningful neuronal connections for neuroplasticity, as a form of mental exercise

[Saucyakld]

I have altzheimers but fight it every day. I am now 76 and frankly amazed I am still here and able to type coherently. It started at 69 and am still living on my own and enjoying it. Yes I forget how to set the alarm or sometimes how to switch the kettle on or where I am if out but I just calm myself and sit or stand still until it gets there. So far been lucky it appears! I carry my phone numbers in case I get lost again.

[joshisawesome]

Sleep deprivation causes Alzheimer’s disease

Me: looks at the time and it’s 3:am

[meher]

My Father had Alzeimers Disease. He didn't suffer.
My Mother who was the caregiver suffered.

[SomeoneHasToSayIt]

My mother died of Alzheimer’s but lived 17 years of meaningful life after diagnosis to age 88. I attribute her amazing resistance to the onset of debilitation to her voracious appetite for news, walking, reading, politics, being a wordsmith and her lifelong discipline of moderation in food and alcohol intake and love of classical music. Strangely enough mother never liked Jazz but in the last few years with Alzheimer’s the Jazz rhythms, instrumental solos, ethereal nature and improvisation became of great interest to her. Music proved to be the absolute best therapy along with adherence to her faith traditions. Of course being a tough old Massachusetts Yank gave her a great foundation. All these things provided mom with a very high quality of life in spite of her vicious and cruel disease.

[czedrickreyes]

"You are more than what you could remember"
Hits me everytime

[larakhalaf]

The most powerful part for me were the lessons at the end.... they totally spoke and fed my soul... it is exactly what I needed to hear having my mother suffering from it... 1) diagnosis it doesn't mean you die tomorrow 2) you wont loose your emotional memory 3) you are more than what you can remember... you gave me so much energy hearing you say this. Truly grateful.

[monicamir]

Learn new things is the best advice. Learn to play tennis, play piano or guitar, learn a foreign language, a new alphabet, learn maths, learn to program a computer, learn to paint, to knit, to crochet.
Learn about NASA activities. Learn what satellites do what.
Learn about stars, constellations, the map of the sky. You can see it on your computer.

All this learning is very helpful. You will never regret learning a new skill.

[Ed_Gein]

My dad died from complications of this at 85. Two years before, when it had already set in and he had lost his memory, he woke up next to his wife of 35 years who had died in her sleep. He knew to call 911. Police arrived, did their thing and took the body away not realizing his condition. Two hours later they received another call from him. This time he was reporting his wife missing. The disease can be cruel.

I have started to learn spanish. Will I ever really learn it well? Who knows. who cares. But it provides real mental exercise that creates new pathways from known english words to the new spanish ones. An hour a day mentally working out and the same working out the physical. Good diet, meditate and release worry before you sleep and hope for the best. That is all you can do.

[violethaye]

She's actually a really good speaker. Her words are articulate, clear, loud enough, and easy to understand.

[LyzBeltrame]

My grandmother had alzheimers for 15 years, and we treated her. Not just give care, but try to treat what she has. And we noticed that engage her in activities (along with a tight schedual) was getting her less and less confused and les in denial.
So i guess this is right: create new learnings and new experiences, keep active and we may be better off

[janiceherring]

Both of my parents have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and each of their journeys follows its own unique path. Thankfully, as an exercise physiologist, I have known and followed your lifestyle and behavioral recommendations throughout my lifetime... save but the sleep aspect. And, while I've known that high-quality sleep is a necessity, you have convinced me that this will be my SMART goal area to focus on to further protect me. It is also good to know about the need to continue learning NEW things into older age. As a university lecturer for the past 29 years, I have needed to keep learning. Being in the university environment also provides many enriching opportunities. I'm grateful for these aspects of university life. Thank you for your expertise and encouragement. And I enjoyed "Still Alice" very much!

[KenDBerryMD]

Great presentation. I would opine that the preventative measure you speak of will NOT be a pill, but a diet. A diet very low in sugars, starches and vegetable oils, and a diet rich in good healthy fats...

[jeams]

"you are more than what you can remember" this is beautiful

[joturo.esp]

Great content.
I'm a 39 man with highly stressed life, terrible sleeping higiene, overweight, family dementia history and AH. I've thought I just have attention deficit and I dislike to memorize, but now I need to pay attention to it. This video teaches me I can do something to avoid going down that road.

[cathrynm]

To prevent Alzheimer's, you also need to protect your brain from concussion. Don't play sports that involve direct contact. The link between trauma to the head and dementia is pretty well proven, I believe.

[chinookvalley]

I have a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and was given Aricept (Donezepil) and saw a huge improvement in my memory and cognitive problems. I had to stop taking it after 10 years due to the muscle spasm side effects. Because I have had severe head injury I am prone (2x) to having Alzheimer's as I get older. Gotta say, I'm in my 60's and my TBI was in 1990 - and I think I am improving each day. Never give up, never give up hope.

[Peter_]

I generally try to find ways to practise my memory, my balance and my reflexes - for example, I memorise the stuff that I want to buy, I stand on one leg when I tie my shoes, I regularly take long walks with a heavy backpack, I often play fast-paced unpredictable scrolling shooter video games, and I study lots of math and science courses.

[Zan]

I think it's also very important to stay away from stressful people and things as much as you possibly can, this can also affect your memory...it happened to me! Luckily for me, through prayer, fasting, eating healthy, traveling & studying a lot, Im getting better! Great video and information, thanks!

[DreamingWithEyesWide]

How did the audience NOT give her a standing ovation?? This talk is fascinating and so optimistic!