The Best Brain-Healthy Foods to Protect Your Memory and Cognition msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ekaterina SmirnovaGetty Images
You already know eating certain foods can help you lose weight and lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease, but following a healthy diet can also keep your brain sharp. The foods you eat impact neurological health in many ways including effects on insulin resistance, detoxification, and systemic inflammation and provide critical vitamins, says Dale E. Bredesen, M.D., a neurologist and author of the book
The End of Alzheimer’s Program, which has a whole section devoted to foods that help prevent cognitive decline. The trick is to find an eating style that optimizes your brainpower
Worsening memory isn’t the only symptom you should be watching out for.
Genetics and risk
Several genes increase your risk for Alzheimer’s disease, but your genetics don’t determine your destiny.
“Scientific evidence shows that several lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, regardless of your genetic predisposition,” says Demetrius Maraganore, MD, who leads the Tulane Healthy Brain Aging Initiative in New Orleans.
That said, genetic testing may help you and your health-care provider better focus your prevention efforts.
“Consider getting genetically tested to see if you carry the apolipoprotein-e4 (APOE-e4) risk variant for Alzheimer’s disease,” says Maraganore. “APOE is one of the approximately 25,000 genes that you inherit one copy from your mom and one copy from your dad.” The APOE-e4 variant is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s.