You may use this image in your ezine or website if you choose to publish my article. Click here to see the picture full-sized.--- Frank Mangano

If you want to stay sharp and in control of your life well into 
your golden years, there are proactive methods to achieving the 
mental alertness you need.  More and more research is pointing to 
the fact that physical activity and lifestyle choices have more 
to do with preventing Alzheimer s disease (AD) and other forms of 
dementia - once thought to be a normal part of aging - than pure 
genetics. So if you had a parent, grandparent or sibling with AD 
it doesn't mean you have to follow the same path. 

Statistics gathered from extensive research do point toward a 
higher risk of developing AD if you had a close relative with AD 
- as much as 50%, but that has less to do with genes and more to 
do with following their lifestyle patterns.  If for example, your 
parents were smokers who rarely exercised, you may have developed 
some of the same destructive habits.  

What can you do to break the cycle and prevent AD? Take action 
and take control today. Even if you are in your 60s or 70s you 
can reverse some of the damage done to your brain through poor 
diet, inactivity, or damaging lifestyle choices.  Scientists have 
discovered very recently that the brain has the ability to repair 
cells and neurotransmitters and improve cognitive function and 
memory.


It's Not Too Late to Make A Difference: Start the 5 Steps Today

1.  Eat Right.  It seems so simple, yet too many people just 
don't get enough of the mind preserving antioxidants found in 
fresh fruits and vegetables. A well-balanced diet, free of diary 
products and using low fat sources of protein will protect both 
heart and mind.

2. Supplement where necessary.  Many diets lack the nutrients 
proven to promote brain health.  These include sources of 
essential fatty acids found in fish and specific herbs and 
minerals that can enhance cognitive function.

3. Exercise.  Originally it was thought that exercise increases 
blood flow and oxygen to the brain cells. This is still true, but 
a report prepared for the National Institutes of Health states 
that exercise can also stimulate the production growth factors, 
which are molecules produced by the body to repair and maintain 
nerves.

4. Lower Your Cholesterol.  Many people with early dementia or AD 
symptoms may have actually experienced small strokes that damaged 
the brain's neurotransmitters. By keeping cholesterol levels in 
check, the arteries are free and clear of plaque that can cause 
stroke.

5.  Do your Mental Exercises.  Keeping up with current events, 
working puzzles each day, learning and memorizing new information 
all work to keeping a mind strong and alert.  It is normal for 
people to sometimes forget a name or date, but the more practice 
recalling such information the greater the brain's ability to do 
this throughout old age.  In the case of mental challenges, the 
more you do the more you can push back the clock on cognitive 
decline.


Five easy steps, when you think about it, can do much to make 
aging an event to celebrate instead of dread.  With age there 
comes experience and wisdom, and we should all do whatever is 
within our power to be able to pass that on to the next 
generation. 

This article is based on the book, "The Mind Killer Defense" 
by Frank Mangano. As an active member of his community he works 
diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing as
a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to promote 
well being. The hard work and persistence that Frank has invested
in recent years is reflected through his writings. If you want 
to minimize the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease naturally...and 
maintain good mental health, visit: 
http://www.alzheimersdefense.com