In a survey about their biggest worries about getting older, 46.5% of the ageing population feared loss of memory. And this fear is not irrational – according to Gary W Small in What we need to know about age related memory loss, “About 10% of people aged 65 years or older have mild cognitive impairment, and nearly 15% of them develop Alzheimer’s disease each year.” In the United States, approximately 5.8 million older adults suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease. This neurodegenerative brain disorder can severely inhibit a person’s ability to function daily, causing losses of memory, conversation skills, and cognitive function. Fortunately, there are many steps individuals can take to prevent or offset the effects of Alzheimer’s.

While Mind Bank Ai may not be able to cure Alzheimer’s disease, the world’s first Personal Digital Twin might as well be the right place to store your wisdom and upload your mind. By storing the memories and speech patterns, the app can track and monitor any variations in speech patterns, which can lead to detection of Alzheimer’s early-onset and subsequently its duly treatment. This is just one step of the process. What else can be done?

How do you prevent Alzheimer’s?

To determine the exact steps you need to take to prevent Alzheimer’s given your situation, it’s best to see a healthcare professional. If you’re above the age of 65 and have been enrolled under Medicare Part B for longer than 12 months, Original Medicare may cover the cost of preventive care services –– namely, yearly wellness visits. During these visits, personal care providers will assess your lifestyle, medical history, and family history to determine your risk factors for common diseases and disabilities.

The yearly wellness visit includes a cognitive assessment that can help determine your likelihood of developing dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease specifically. The assessment will look into any signs of cognitive impairment, such as poor memory, poor concentration, difficulty learning new things, and trouble making decisions related to life and finance.

Following your yearly wellness visit, your provider will give you a personalized prevention plan, which will contain recommendations for treatments, medications, and lifestyle changes you need to make to avoid dementia.

How physical exercise benefits your Mental Health

Exercise plays a key role in preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia. When you engage in physical activity, you strengthen the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, which are the parts of the brain that support memory. And since physical activity gets the blood flowing into the brain, it also helps to improve cognition.

To get started with exercise, you can enroll in a gym or join an exercise group. If you want to exercise safely and save money, you can also check whether your Medicare Plan covers fitness benefits. KelseyCare Advantage notes that Medicare Part C plans offered by private insurers can include membership in senior-focused fitness programs like SilverSneakers. You can leverage such membership perks to gain access to gyms, workout equipment, instructional videos, and live exercise classes, all of which will keep you physically active.

Given that these programs are designed specifically for seniors, the instructional resources provided will also be catered to the needs of your aging body, which allows you to exercise without putting yourself at risk of injury.

Eating right to prevent Alzheimer

Certain types of diets may also help improve your cognitive function and reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. According to the National Institutes of Health, the Mediterranean diet –– which involves consuming high amounts of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins –– is known to slow changes in the brain. In comparison to western diets, Mediterranean diets also cause less accumulation of beta-amyloid, which is a protein commonly found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s.

In general, you should stick to foods that improve brain health, such as leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and fatty fish. Additionally, avoid foods that increase risk factors for dementia, such as processed meats, sweets, and refined grains.

Exercising your brain

Once you improve your brain health through physical activity and nutrition, make sure to keep your brain exercised as well. Computer-based “brain training games” can help strengthen memory, attention, flexibility, and problem-solving. You can also look into traditional pen-and-paper puzzles, such as crosswords and Sudoku. Whatever your go-to method, the more you use your brain, the more you reduce your risks of cognitive decline. Even reading regularly can help.

Store your conscious as a preventative measure for Alzheimer’s

It’s all a matter of protecting your brain health through diet and physical and mental exercise. However, people concerned with cognitive decline today also have the option of taking things a step further and saving their consciousness from getting fully lost. At Mind Bank AI, we aim to develop AI capable of creating a Personal Digital Twin your loved ones can communicate with, allowing them to tap into your brain at a later point in time. With such an innovation, individuals can minimize the grief caused by degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Mind Bank Ai is not just a means of preserving knowledge while helping you to continue passing on your traditions and bringing joy to your family for generations to come. As the mirror to your inner self, our Personal Digital Twin platform can also play a role in predicting the onset of cognitive disabilities. One of the perks of a future of AI-enhanced humanity.