What exactly is Alzheimer’s?

Often referred to as “Old timer’s disease,” Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects nearly 36 million people worldwide. It causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour, and is classified as a progressive illness, which means that symptoms will gradually worsen over time. Whereas someone with early stage Alzheimer’s might only be subject to memory problems, by the later stages of the illness, the same person could have lost the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.

Alzheimer’s has remained a major research focus, not only due to the large amount of people afflicted by the illness, but also to the fact that no effective diagnoses or treatments have been discovered. Presently, the only way to diagnose Alzheimer’s with certainty is through an autopsy, and there are currently no treatments available to halt its progression.

While no effective Alzheimer’s treatments are yet on the market, there are many different methods of prevention. Although most of these preventative measures are dubious—avoiding flu shots and silver dental fillings to name a few—there are some easy and unexpected steps that can be taken, which are backed by scientific research.

Alzheimer’s prevention plan: 

1) Eat more curry

According to research conducted by Sally Frautschy, associate professor of medicine at UCLA, turmeric—a major component of curry powder—might be protective against Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists first became interested in curry powder when they noticed that India had an unexpectedly low rate of Alzheimer’s cases.

Curry, a dietary staple in India, is also used as a household remedy to treat conditions for which Western cultures typically use anti-inflammatory drugs. Since recent evidence suggests Alzheimer’s may also have an inflammatory component, scientists suspect that this anti-inflammatory property of curry may aid in treating the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease involves a buildup of a protein known as beta-amyloid in the brain. These abnormal deposits then cause inflammation, destroying cells as a result. If curcumin — the major ingredient in turmeric — were to have anti-inflammatory components, it makes sense that it may help with the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

Frautschy’s research showed that, when beta-amyloid was injected into the brains of rats to mimic Alzheimer’s, rats fed a diet rich in curcumin showed a reduced accumulation of the troublesome protein. It is possible that curcumin binds to beta-amyloid and deactivates it, thereby reducing the chances of these deposits building up to cause Alzheimer’s.

2) Brush your teeth with your other hand

In an interview with the McGill Reporter, Jens Pruessner, director of the McGill Center for Studies in Aging, stated: “The old adage ‘use it or lose it’ really applies to your brain.”

Cognitive training has been shown to preserve high cognitive function at an old age. Even exercises that involve adding variety to your daily mental routine can prove beneficial.

One easy exercise with which to experiment is alternating which hand you use to brush your teeth. Simple brain stimulating switch-ups, such as putting a watch on the other wrist, activate brain regions that might otherwise go unstimulated.