Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder, yet not a typical aspect of aging.1 It is the leading cause of dementia in older adults, affecting nearly seven million Americans.2 Diagnosis traditionally relies on detecting amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain—which, until recently, required costly and invasive procedures such as advanced brain imaging or cerebrospinal fluid tests. Emerging technologies offer promising methods for detecting these biomarkers, potentially allowing for earlier and more accurate diagnosis, even before cognitive symptoms appear, enhancing both patient and provider understanding of the disease's underlying biology. Most importantly, this information can provide access to new therapeutics and the understanding that lifestyle changes can have a measurable benefit.
Lifestyle Changes
If you’re looking for ways to counteract AD, a recent well-known publication provided 14 practical steps that can help you support brain health and potentially slow or even reverse cognitive decline.3 These tips cover lifestyle changes—from diet and exercise to mental and social engagement—that target factors influencing AD. By incorporating these strategies into daily life, you may be able to strengthen brain resilience and improve cognitive function, helping you take proactive control of your cognitive health.
1. Education
Engage in lifelong learning and activities that stimulate your mind, as continued education builds cognitive resilience.
2. Hearing Loss
Protect your hearing from early on, use hearing aids if needed, and seek quiet environments to preserve cognitive connections.
3. Hypertension
Monitor and maintain healthy blood pressure from midlife to reduce strain on the brain’s vascular system.
4. Obesity
Maintain a balanced diet and regular physical activity to prevent excess weight, which can damage brain health. Options such as the Mediterranean diet may have potential benefits.
5. Physical Inactivity
Incorporate consistent exercise routines to boost circulation, support brain structure, and improve mood.
6. Diabetes
Keep blood sugar levels stable through a healthy diet and regular exercise, as diabetes can heighten dementia risk.
7. Excess Alcohol
Limit alcohol intake, staying below recommended levels to avoid long-term cognitive damage.
8. Smoking
Quit smoking to prevent vascular damage and inflammation, both of which are linked to cognitive decline.
9. Depression
Seek mental health support early, as untreated depression is strongly linked to later cognitive issues.
10. Social Isolation
Cultivate social connections and engage in group activities to enhance cognitive function and reduce loneliness.
11. Traumatic Brain Injury
Use helmets and other protective gear in activities at risk for head injury, as even mild injuries can affect brain health.
12. Air Pollution
Minimize exposure to polluted environments, when possible, as air quality impacts cognitive health.
13. Vision Loss
Address vision problems promptly to maintain sensory input that supports cognitive health.
14. High LDL Cholesterol
Monitor cholesterol and adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle to prevent vascular issues that contribute to cognitive decline.
These proactive measures can help reduce or delay the onset of dementia symptoms and promote cognitive longevity. Click here to learn more about these risk factors and the potential lifestyle changes you can make.
Learn More About Tau Pathology
Veravas’ new VeraBIND™ Tau assay is intended to measure the pathological activity of hyperphosphorylated tau in blood and the results can be used to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Click here to learn more about the role tau pathology plays in AD or click here for more information about VeraBIND Tau.
Support Resources
For those looking to learn more about living with Alzheimer’s disease, we recommend the following resources.
Alzheimer’s Association
Alzheimer’s.gov
Alzheimer’s Society
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
Rasmussen J, Langerman H. Alzheimer's Disease - Why We Need Early Diagnosis. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis. 2019;9:123-130. Published 2019 Dec 24. doi:10.2147/DNND.S228939 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6935598/
Alzheimer’s Association. 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimers Dement 2024;20(5). https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, Ames D, Banerjee S, Burns A, Brayne C, Fox NC, Ferri CP, Gitlin LN, Howard R, Kales HC, Kivimäki M, Larson EB, Nakasujja N, Rockwood K, Samus Q, Shirai K, Singh-Manoux A, Schneider LS, Walsh S, Yao Y, Sommerlad A, Mukadam N. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. Lancet. 2024 Aug 10;404(10452):572-628. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0. Epub 2024 Jul 31. PMID: 39096926. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39096926/