Alzheimer's Preventative Steps and Planning
There is no treatment to stop the deterioration of brain cells of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved five drugs that temporarily slow worsening of symptoms for about an average of 6 to 12 months for about 1/2 of the people who take them. The good news is that based on deepening insight into the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s and cutting edge frameworks for understanding the disease, researchers are beginning identified treatment strategies that may have the potential to change Alzheimer's course.
A number of experimental therapies to treat Alzheimer's are in clinical testing in human volunteers already in the works. The Alzheimer's Association reports that:
Despite the current lack of disease-modifying therapies, studies have consistently shown that active medical management of Alzheimer’s and other dementias can significantly improve quality of life through all stages of the disease for diagnosed individuals and their caregivers. Active management includes appropriate use of available treatment options, effective integration of coexisting conditions into the treatment plan, and use of supportive services such as counseling, activity and support groups and adult day center programs.
Common sense is making a come-back with Alzheimer's. While nothing is certain to help, many scientists consider the emerging field of prevention one of the most exciting recent developments in the dementia research arena. There is now a huge growing body of evidence that suggests that the health of the brain which one of the body’s most highly vascular organs, is closely synced to the overall health of the heart and blood vessels of the body. Some compelling common sense data indicates that management of basic cardiovascular risk factors such as:
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes, both type 1 and type 2
- High blood pressure or hypertension
- Obesity
may help avoid or slow the person's deteriorating cognitive abilities.
Additional evidence points to significant benefits for regular physical exercise in maintaining lifelong cognitive brain function and vascular health health. Additionally, other data may suggest that a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables may support brain health as well as a lifetime of staying mentally active with activities like reading, social activities, writing, games, puzzles. The point is it can't hurt to eat, sleep, and exercise whether it directly prevents cognitive declines or not.
The last step is what LTCtree helps clients do. You may do all the right things and still develop some form of dementia down the road. It's always a good idea to have a plan B and simply planning financially for your old age will help everyone who is close to you and more importantly yourself. A simple way to plan is through long term care insurance which is a type of coverage that will pay for your actual care in the event you need home health care, assisted living care, nursing home care, adult day care, hospice care down the road. If you'd like to learn more if long term care might be a good fit financially for your situation fill out the sort form below and we'll mail you out your info. Thanks for reading our blog, we really appreciate it.
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