As I grow older, I confess I pay much more attention to findings in Alzheimer’s research than I did when I was younger. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out why: Alzheimer’s cases are steadily growing as the U.S. population grows older — and I’m among that so-called “aging Baby Boomers generation” so often connected with that part of the population.
Add to this that I’ve seen both my mother-in-law and before her my father-in-law suffer debilitating dementia in their last year of life, and you see why Alzheimer’s research keeps my attention.
Just today, I ran onto a new study reinforcing the significance of diet in relation to Alzheimer’s. This particular study suggested that those who eat diets high in salads, tomatoes, nuts, and poultry had a 38 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s than those who’s diets were high in fat and red meat and lower in salads, fresh vegetables, and lean meats.
Other research has long suggested the major health benefits in all areas of life, including a reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s, of weight control and regular exercise (mental and physical). That doesn’t seem like a real stretch, or much of a surprise, does it?
Generally speaking, whether us overweight people (yes, I include myself) take off the pounds through sensible diet and exercise or through one of those weight loss products on the market, we’re going to be healthier if we’re thinner.
As for Alzheimer’s — maybe some day there’ll be an injection or a pill to eliminate that scourge. Until then, sensible eating and sensible living sure can’t hurt, can it?