Approximately 30 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It is predicted that this number will reach 160 million people in the 2050s. Stating that sedentary life and fast food style nutrition are the biggest reasons for this increase, Neurology Specialist pointed out that with weight gain and inactivity, brain blood flow decreases, which poses a risk for Alzheimer's disease, and the increase in the number of patients will also cause the economic burden of society to increase.

A sedentary lifestyle and a fast-food diet are some of the biggest causes of Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 30 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, this number is expected to reach approximately 160 million by the 2050s. Neurology specialists at Yeditepe University Hospitals stated, “If there is no active life or regular exercise, brain blood flow decreases, which poses a risk for Alzheimer's disease.”

“Decreased Brain Blood Flow Linked to Weight”

One of the most important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease in recent years is decreased blood flow to the brain, our expert said:

“Decreased brain blood flow is linked to weight. In other words, the higher a person's body mass index, the slower the blood flow in the brain. If there is no active life or regular exercise, brain blood flow decreases, which is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Another reason is nutrition. An irregular diet, which is predominantly processed carbohydrates and animal fat and does not pay attention to protein and vitamin balance, is also among the leading risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, people who do not want to work on good nutrition and physical activity, who are sedentary and overweight, are more likely to have Alzheimer's disease. ”

“There are No Drugs To Prevent Alzheimer's Disease”

Stating that all of the drugs used for Alzheimer's disease only slow down the process, our expert also added: "The risk of Alzheimer's disease is quite reduced in people who are fed and active in the Mediterranean type. The fact that we do not have any drugs to stop or cure Alzheimer's now makes the importance of disease prevention even clearer. All of the drugs we have are designed to slow down the process when the disease starts. For this reason, it is extremely important to eat healthy from childhood and make exercise a part of our lives. In fact, studies have shown that even after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, regular exercise and good nutrition can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and provide relief that medications cannot. These criteria apply to everyone, with or without genetic risk. Rather than looking for plants, seeds or roots that are good for Alzheimer's disease, good nutrition, and movement yield much more precise results.”

Age Is The Most Significant Risk Factor

Underlining that age is the most important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in addition to nutrition and physical activity, our expert stated that there are some misconceptions about this issue:

“Alzheimer's is an age-related disease. Alzheimer's disease is also out of the question as young people do not have enough age to develop this disease. We have patients between the ages of 25 and 30 who apply to me with fear. However, it should be known that it is not possible to get a diagnosis of Alzheimer's at this age. In particular, young individuals with a family history of Alzheimer's disease turn to neurologists to ask, “Will I have Alzheimer's too?” We can say that the genetic risk increases if there is more than one person diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the family or if there are patients in the family who have been diagnosed before the age of 50. However, we cannot talk about certainty.”

“It Is Never Too Late To Prevent Alzheimer's Disease”

“Memory is not something that should diminish with age. It is never too young or too late to start adopting healthy habits that can affect your brain function. Yeditepe University Hospital Neurologist: ''Use your brain intelligently. A brain-healthy lifestyle can delay or prevent the development of dementia in a significant number of people.''

This content was prepared by Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Editorial Board.

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