A neuroscientist educated at Harvard has shared what she tells people when they ask if there is a pill or supplement they can take to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Lisa Genova is a bestselling author with a PhD in Neuroscience from Harvard University.
The neuroscientist appeared in an Instagram video for @Bigthinkers, discussing how people might reduce their risk of developing the disease. According to the NHS: “Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe. It affects multiple brain functions.”
In the video, Lisa said there is no pill that people can take to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but she did say there are several lifestyle factors that ‘work as well as any pill that we might develop.’ She claims: “For 98% of us, Alzheimer’s is not our brain’s destiny.
“Our risk of developing Alzheimer’s is a combination of the genes we’ve inherited from mum and dad, and how we live. So what are the lifestyle factors that influence our brain health with respect to Alzheimer’s? Sleep, diet, exercise, stress, and learning new things.
“So these aren’t particularly sexy, but they work. And I think understanding why they work can help us actually implement them. Because I think a lot of us just want a pill. People come up to me all the time, what’s the supplement? What can I take that will prevent Alzheimer’s?
“The good news is that a lot of these lifestyle factors work as well as any pill that we might develop for preventing Alzheimer’s. We just have to do them.”
What increases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease?
According to the NHS: “The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet fully understood, although a number of things are thought to increase your risk of developing the condition.” The NHS said these include:
- age
- a family history of the condition
- untreated depression
- lifestyle factors and conditions associated with cardiovascular disease
The NHS says: “Research shows that several lifestyle factors and conditions associated with cardiovascular disease can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These include: smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.”
What decreases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease?
The NHS explains: “You can help reduce your risk by: stopping smoking, eating a healthy, balanced diet, leading an active life, both physically and mentally, losing weight if you need to, drinking less alcohol, and having regular health checks as you get older.”
According to the NHS, research suggests that other factors, including hearing loss, loneliness, and a sedentary lifestyle, are also important. However, this does not mean they are directly responsible, reports the Mirror.
The NHS says: “Alzheimer’s disease is most common in people over the age of 65. The risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia increases with age, affecting an estimated one in 14 people over the age of 65 and one in every six people over the age of 80.”