Alzheimer’s is a cruel and debilitating disease, especially in its latter stages and as of yet there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s & Dementia, but there are simple things we can all do to help reduce the risk of getting the disease.

We’re all aware of the saying ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’, but when it comes to keeping your mind healthy, this just simply isn’t true. Many of the world’s top researchers believe that keeping your mind active and stimulated can lead to a healthier brain and can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

With November being World Alzheimer’s month, we want to share our tips to help you and your loved ones keep an active & healthy mind:

• Physical Exercise: Not only will it benefit your body, it can also have a great effect on your brains vitality too. 30 minutes of cardio 3 to 4 times a week can increase blood flow around the body and to the brain, which will in turn, encourage new brain cell growth. Walking, running and swimming are great exercises to get the blood flowing.

• Puzzles & Games: Much like the muscles in your body, your mind needs to be exercised too, the ‘’use it or lose it’’ motto applies to both. Crossword puzzles & Sudoku can be really challenging for your mind, which is exactly what’s needed. Games such as Chess & Checkers will get you strategizing and thinking about your next move, which will keep your mind engaged.

• Courses & Classes: Enrolling in night classes or online courses can be of huge benefit. Joining a class or course can often be quite daunting, but it can also be a great place to meet new people or take on a new challenge. There are usually plenty of courses for adults in local community centers & schools so keep an eye on their notice boards and websites.

• Socialising: Taking part in social activities with friends or family and experiencing new things can help stimulate brain function. Being part of social groups will prevent individuals from feeling isolated and lonely, which will obviously help keep your mind healthy.

• Gardening: For a lot of people this can be a hugely relaxing hobby and keeping your pastimes peaceful and stress-free is hugely important for your mental health, but it can also be quite challenging. Planning and preparing for each season is a task all on its own and knowing what to plant, when to plant it and learning about different types of plants can really help the cogs in the brain to turn.

• Cooking: Why Not start in the Kitchen with a brain boosting diet!? There are certain foods with omega 3 and fatty acids that are particularly beneficial to brain health. Fish can be a fantastic source of omega 3, especially cold water fish such as salmon, tuna & trout. Certain fruits & veg are packed with antioxidants, the more colourful fruit & veg, such as kiwi’s, pineapples, limes, broccoli & spinach are classed as ‘’super-foods’’ and are packed with antioxidants that will help protect your brain cells.

You don’t have to make huge or drastic changes to your lifestyle, try gradually adding some of these tips to your daily routine and you could really reap the benefits. The earlier you start in life the easier and better you’ll find it.

If you have any ideas or tips then please let us know on facebook by clicking here.

Click on Alzheimer’s & Dementia to find out more about the types of services we can provide that can help you and your loved ones.

Check out our blog next week for some tasty recipe ideas to keep your mind & body in tip top shape!