By Silva Mirovics
Take mind matters into your own hands
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Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most feared, most prevalent, disruptive, and expensive diseases in the world right now.
’ve learnt so much from The Brain Docs and follow their research closely, says Jan, a 60-year-old business owner from balmy, tropical Noosa. Jan refers to Drs Ayesha and Dean Sherzai who have devoted their medical careers to brain health and dementia prevention. Dementia is a plague that sees no end in the modern world. Currently, almost 70,000 New Zealanders and just under 500,000 Aussies are living with dementia. Most people know someone who has been diagnosed. The World Health Organization have released some shocking numbers. They expect that by 2030 seventy-eight million people worldwide will have dementia. Dementia is the umbrella under which sit brain diseases and disorders such as: • • • • •
Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia Parkinson’s disease Vascular dementia Frontotemporal dementia, And many others
The most prevalent form of dementia
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most feared, most prevalent, disruptive, and expensive diseases in the world right now. In AD, the brain develops plaques and tangles, gaps and holes, and shrinks considerably in size when compared to a healthy brain. No matter your chronological age, a healthy brain looks full and whole compared to someone with AD. Unfortunately, advanced AD is always fatal. This is due to the significant damage that the disease inflicts on the brain, thereby shortening your lifespan. There is no medical cure or evidence to support reversing this disease. But scientists agree that changing your diet and lifestyle can greatly lower the risk of being diagnosed and possibly slow progression if you are diagnosed.
Risk Factors for cognitive decline
Dietary and lifestyle factors are not linked to your genetics or your age. So, in theory you can improve these at any given time you choose to do so. They are often referred to as Modifiable Risk Factors. This means that by modifying or changing them you are potentially lowering your risk of developing AD. Of course, changing what you eat and how you live is not always straightforward or easy. But if implementing these changes means you greatly reduce your risk of AD, isn’t it worth the effort? In fact,
22 wholefoodliving.life | Autumn 2023
Melbourne based writer, Silva Mirovics, has a Bachelor of Health Science, a Master's in gerontology and is a graduate of the e-Cornell nutrition course. In the following article, the first in a series of three, she reviews the growing problem we face with Alzheimer's Disease. Future articles will cover exercise (physical and mental) and other lifestyle factors we all need to know more about to reduce our Alzheimer's risk. the Sherzais tell us that 90% of Alzheimer’s cases are preventable. Now that is good news! The major lifestyle risk factors for AD that you can change include: • High blood pressure (hypertension) at mid-life • Obesity at mid-life • Diabetes (Type 2) • Smoking • Physical inactivity • Level of education • Poor quality of sleep • Depression • Social isolation
It all links together
A diet high in saturated fat, salt and cholesterol is the leading cause of high blood pressure, obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Neal Barnard, MD, confirms this in his book ‘Power Foods For The Brain’. Dr Barnard advises avoiding all animal products for optimal brain health. The saturated fat and cholesterol they contain boost your risk of stroke and AD. Add in physical inactivity, lack of sleep, smoking, and it is a cocktail of cognitive disaster. You may begin to see how your heart, gut and brain are interlinked. What you eat, how you move, and how you feel impact your overall and long-term health.
Making positive changes
Tucked away in the picturesque Adelaide Hills is the town of Lobethal, home to great wineries and a vibrant 80-year-old retiree named Maureen. “I used to be overweight and in terrible shape. I lost my father and paternal grandmother to Alzheimer’s, and my
