You might know that a lot of the food that we eaten in our Western diet is unhealthy, but new research shows that a Western-style diet may actually risk the chance of having Alzheimer’s disease later on in life. The data indicated that diets rich in meats, sugary foods, and high-fat dairy products increased the risk of Alzheimer’s, while diets rich in fish, grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes were associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent form of dementia in the world today. About 42 million people across the globe suffer from dementia, and the rate is still growing today. There have been clues for many years that diet and Alzheimer’s are linked, and this most recent study supports the growing mountain of evidence. Data was taken from both observational and ecological studies, and Japanese culture was one of the main areas targeted. In 1985, Japan had a very low rate of Alzheimer’s cases within their population at 1 percent. By 2008, that number had grown to 7 percent. Researchers cite Japan’s transition from a traditional diet to one that includes far more Western foods. The data saw Alzheimer’s cases lagging by about 20 to 25 years behind the massive dietary changes within the country, indicating that the changes were likely because of long term consumption of less healthy food.
The researchers behind the study also stated that making the recommended dietary changes might also help prevent Type 2 diabetes, stroke, some types of cancer, and perhaps even chronic kidney disease.
It’s important that we know what factors might contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s because with that information, we can help our loved ones, and ourselves, to live better lives. Alzheimer’s disease does not have a cure, and the senior care that is given to help with the disease is more about helping people to stay safe and relatively healthy. The decline that occurs is both cognitive and physical, and oftentimes, in-home care services are not enough at the end to help a loved one with all of the needs that they might have. Taking steps to prevent dementia now is the best way to ensure that this never happens to yourself or someone that you love.
If you already have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, finding them the right care and caregiver is going to be one of your most pressing tasks. Studies show that keeping your loved one in a familiar place can help slow the spread of the cognitive decline and memory loss that occurs, and in the beginning stages of the disease, in-home care is one of the best ways to accomplish this. As their needs change, you may need to reconsider their care, but this is a good starting point in the majority of instances. Not only is it a relatively cheap method of care, but it also provides the love and familiarity that your parent or grandparent needs at this stage in their life. It keeps them in their home and around the people that love them, and it gives them a trained caregiver to assist with their needs.
Leave a Reply