Four lifestyle changes that halve your chances of developing Alzheimer’s

You can change four things in your life today that will halve your chances of developing Alzheimer’s in old age.
Researchers have earmarked a range of risk factors that determine whether someone will develop the disease. Some you can’t do much about, but there are four things you can change today to lessen your own risk.
o Smoking: It is one of the major causes of Alzheimer’s, and it’s one that you can do something about (after low education). So, if you smoke – stop.
o Physical inactivity: This is the next major cause after smoking. So, start exercising – even walking half-an-hour a day could make the difference.
o Hypertension: High blood pressure is another cause, and it’s linked to the first two. In addition to stop smoking and exercising, start eating a healthy, non-processed diet.
o Obesity: Being overweight is the fourth major cause over which you have some influence. Doing the first three right should see you naturally lose weight.
These factors cause around 51 per cent of all Alzheimer cases, say researchers from the San Francisco VA Medical Center – so putting them right in your life will halve your own risk.
(Source: Lancet Neurology, 2011; doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70072-2).

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