However new studies suggest that there are in fact steps that one could do in order to prevent or delay the development of Alzheimer's.
Because of the nature of Alzheimer's, focus on maintaining a healthy brain is encouraged. This can be done in the following ways:.
The six pillars of a brain-healthy lifestyle are:.
• Regular exercise.
• Healthy diet.
• Mental stimulation.
• Quality sleep.
• Stress management.
• An active social life.
However what has been recently suggested is that people who speak more than one language and who develop dementia tend to do so up to five years later than those who are monolingual, according to a study In fact 650 individuals who have been diagnosed with the condition were tested and it was found that those who regularly spoke more than one language developed dementia up to 5 years later than those who didn't. In addition to this it was not even necessary that the individual was literate in the L2 (second language).
However what could be the possible reasons for this statement?.
"Bilingualism can be seen as successful brain training, contributing to cognitive reserve, which can help delay dementia," (Thomas Back, 2011). "Cognitive reserve" refers to the ability for the brain to function at a normal rate despite any cognitive inconsistencies. What is being suggested is those that have a far greater level of cognitive reserve could potentially develop Alzheimer's however if they do it is at a later stage. In addition to this even if that individual does go on to develop any form of Dementia including Alzheimer's, they will do at a slower rate as well as not be significantly impacted in comparison to those who little to no level of cognitive reserve It's thought that activities that develop cognitive reserve work because they increase the robustness of your brain's architecture - enriching blood flow, enhancing neuronal activity and putting more of your brain to use .