Will I get Alzheimer’s disease?

For most of us, losing our memory and ability to function as we age is one of our biggest fears, especially if we saw it happen to a loved one.

Alzheimer’s disease is the main cause of disability among aging adults. It affects one in 10 people over age 65 and one in two people over age 85 in North America.

The other scary factor is that there’s no known cure. Current prescription drugs don’t work very well. If they do, it’s only for the short term. So, once you’re diagnosed, there’s nothing much that can be done except wait for the inevitable.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that the genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease, familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD), occurs in only about 7% of the population. Even then, siblings and children only inherit the FAD gene 50% of the time.

This means that for the remaining 93% of us, lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking are the main cause of Alzheimer’s. Genetic factors may play a role here but more research is needed before we know for sure.

This also means that even though Alzheimer’s disease can’t be cured or slowed down very much, it can be prevented.

You can choose to prevent Alzheimer’s disease by changing your diet and lifestyle. The sooner you start, the sooner you can reap the benefits of having more energy and greater mental clarity, now as well as in your later years.

Seventy-five percent of factors that determine your health in later life are related to lifestyle, not aging.

Alzheimer’s disease is not an inevitable part of aging.

You don’t have to end up like your parent or grandparent. Don’t know where to start? Sign up below for more info.