Alzheimer's prevention: Does it exist? (2024)

Are there any proven Alzheimer's prevention strategies?

Answer From Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D.

Not yet. But there's strong evidence that healthy lifestyle habits — such as diet, exercise and not smoking — may play a role in reducing your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. However, more research is needed before any of these lifestyle factors can be considered a proven strategy to prevent Alzheimer's disease.

In particular, the Mediterranean diet has been associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The Mediterranean diet is also linked to improved cognition in people who are at risk of heart and other vascular diseases.

The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fish and uses olive oil as the primary cooking fat. This type of diet is also a heart-healthy diet that reduces the risk of conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. These conditions are also risk factors for dementia.

More research is needed before experts know specific ways to prevent Alzheimer's. But here are some steps that promote good overall brain health:

  • Avoid smoking.
  • Control vascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
  • Eat a balanced diet — such as the Mediterranean diet — that's rich in vegetables, fruits and lean protein, particularly protein sources containing omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Be physically and socially active, including engaging in aerobic exercise.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Take care of your mental health.
  • Use thinking (cognitive) skills, such as memory skills.
  • Avoid head injury.
  • Treat hearing loss.
  • Limit alcohol consumption.

With

Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D.

March 13, 2024

  1. NIH consensus development conference statement on preventing Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. NIH Consensus and State-of-the-Science Statements. 2010;27:1.
  2. Press D, et al. Prevention of dementia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 31, 2022.
  3. Duplantier SC, et al. A critical review of the study of neuroprotective diets to reduce cognitive decline. Nutrients. 2021; doi:10.3390/nu13072264.
  4. Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented? Alzheimer's Association. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/prevention. Accessed March 31, 2022.
  5. Guzman-Martinez L, et al. New frontiers in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's disease. 2021; doi:10.3233/JAD-201059.
  6. Livingston G, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. Lancet Commissions. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6.
  7. Graff-Radford J (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic; March 31, 2022.

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  51. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
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  53. Sundowning: Late-day confusion
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  59. Young-onset Alzheimer's

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Alzheimer's prevention: Does it exist? (2024)

FAQs

Are there any proven ways to prevent Alzheimer's? ›

As the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown, there's no certain way to prevent the condition. But a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk.

What can middle aged people do now to prevent dementia? ›

There are things you can do to reduce your own risk of developing dementia. These include keeping active, eating healthily and exercising your mind. There is a lot of evidence that lifestyle choices can affect our risk of developing dementia.

Can Alzheimer's be prevented if caught early? ›

Can early-onset Alzheimer disease be prevented? Experts don't know how to prevent Alzheimer disease. Recently, some evidence showed that finding the disease early can lead to better treatment options.

Is Alzheimer's Curable or Preventable? ›

There's no cure for Alzheimer's, but there are treatments that may change disease progression, and drug and non-drug options that may help treat symptoms. Understanding available options can help individuals living with the disease and their caregivers to cope with symptoms and improve quality of life.

What are 7 things that activate Alzheimer's? ›

Although it's still unknown what triggers Alzheimer's disease, several factors are known to increase your risk of developing the condition.
  • Age. Age is the single most significant factor. ...
  • Family history. ...
  • Down's syndrome. ...
  • Head injuries. ...
  • Cardiovascular disease.

Who is most likely to get Alzheimer's? ›

Age is the biggest known risk factor for Alzheimer's. Most people with Alzheimer's develop the disease when they are 65 or older, with less than 10% of cases occurring before then. As a person ages past 65, their risk of Alzheimer's increases.

What is the number one thing to prevent dementia? ›

1. Keep an eye on your blood pressure. Heidebrink: Aim for a systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or lower in midlife (from around age 40). Research has shown that better control of blood pressure during midlife not only reduces the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia but also of heart attack and stroke.

What are three foods that prevent Alzheimer's? ›

Many foods — blueberries, leafy greens, and curcumin (found in the spice turmeric), to name a few — have been studied for their potential cognitive benefit. These foods have been thought to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or other properties that might help protect the brain.

What is the number one trigger for dementia behavior? ›

Pain or Discomfort: General pain, side effects from medications, lack of sleep, and inability to describe their discomfort are all common symptoms that can trigger aggressive behavior or lashing out. Environment: This is the most common trigger for aggressive behavior in dementia patients.

What are the 10 early warning signs of Alzheimer's? ›

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia
  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life. ...
  • Challenges in planning or solving problems. ...
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks. ...
  • Confusion with time or place. ...
  • Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. ...
  • New problems with words in speaking or writing.

How does your body warn you that dementia is forming? ›

Early symptoms of dementia

memory problems, particularly remembering recent events. increasing confusion. reduced concentration. personality or behaviour changes.

What vitamin helps prevent Alzheimer's disease? ›

Vitamin C has been shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease by 20% when taken with vitamin E. To take advantage of its fullest benefits, you should take a dose of 2,000 mg of vitamin C per day.

Has anyone ever recovered from Alzheimer's? ›

Alzheimer's currently has no cure and no survivors.

How to avoid getting Alzheimer's? ›

Here's what you can do:
  1. Prevent and manage high blood pressure. ...
  2. Manage blood sugar. ...
  3. Maintain a healthy weight. ...
  4. Be physically active. ...
  5. Quit smoking. ...
  6. Avoid excessive drinking. ...
  7. Prevent and correct hearing loss. ...
  8. Get enough sleep.

Does Alzheimer's skip a generation? ›

This is called 'familial Alzheimer's disease' (FAD) or 'young onset inherited' Alzheimer's. It usually affects many members of the same family at every generation, typically in their 30s, 40s or 50s. The faulty gene is passed down directly from a parent who has the disease to their child, it does not skip generations.

Can you prevent Alzheimer's from progressing? ›

According to the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, regular physical exercise can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 50 percent. What's more, exercise can also slow further deterioration in those who have already started to develop cognitive problems.

What are three causes of Alzheimer's? ›

The causes probably include a combination of age-related changes in the brain, along with genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The importance of any one of these factors in increasing or decreasing the risk of developing Alzheimer's may differ from person to person.

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