Memory, Stress, & Alzheimer's
Many people I see with forgetfulness are simply suffering from
long-term stress. However, they often wonder if it's Alzheimer's.
Absent mindedness is more likely to be stress related. But if you're
concerned about developing Alzheimer's Disease here's some info to
help you minimize your risk. The cause of most Alzheimer's is unknown
but neuroscience is aware of a number of factors which influence your
likelihood of developing the disease. Thus there are things you can
do
to lower your risk. A high-fat diet, elevated cholesterol, and
obesity
are all risk factors, as are high blood-pressure and smoking. You can
make lifestyle changes to improve these and thus reduce your risk of
developing Alzheimer's. You can also cut your risk further by eating
fish containing omega 3 fats, eating a low fat diet & foods rich
in
polyphenol anti-oxidants, as well as exercising. A major way of
decreasing the risk is through challenging your brain. Learning a
language, taking a course, studying, and doing puzzles are very
powerful methods of reducing the risk of Alzheimer's. By doing much
of
this you also reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. But when
you wonder why your memory is a bit off, check your stress levels
before you panic.
John Prendergast is a Hypno-Psychotherapist &
Trauma
Therapist at The Dancing Soul Therapy Centre. The Centre offers
expert
therapies including: Psychotherapy, Kenesiology, NLP,
Reflexology,
Cranio Sacral Therapy, Yoga and more. Call on 09064 90607 or drop in
at 8 Pearse Street, Athlone.
