In the first stages, the person is conscious of memory losses, which can cause psychological distress. Later on, the person loses short term memory and will not remember what they did during the day, but can remember events in the past with great clarity. In the last stages, the person loses both short and long term memory, which makes them confuse and needing constant care.
Symptoms: DISTRACTIONS – FORGETFULNESS – DISORIENTATION
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS:
DIET
A healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet can have a major impact on memory. Memory and cognitive functions are affected by the aging process. To avoid premature memory issues, modifying the diet so it provides the nutrients for cognitive support can be significant. To achieve this, reduce saturated fats as much as possible (more specifically red meat). Replace them with lean meats such as poultry and fish or even legumes. Similarly reduce the consumption of trans fats from fried foods, refined oils, shortenings etc. to replace them with cold-pressed oil such as olive, flaxseed, canola or hemp. Good fats can also be integrated to the diet via omega-3 rich fish (mackerel, salmon, tuna, sardines and anchovy). The good fats will support the exchange of information between neurons in the brain. B vitamins also play an important role in cognition. Whole grain cereals, dietary yeast, brewer’s yeast, offal, meats, eggs and fish are more than interesting sources of B vitamins. We cannot eglect either the impact of antioxidants and lecithin on memorisation and concentration. These nutrients are important to maintain a healthy brain. Antioxidants are found in colourful fruits and vegetables; the darker the color, the more antioxidants the food contains.
PHYSICAL EXERCISE
Stimulation of blood circulation from physical activity cannot be left aside when speaking of memory. Indeed, physical activity can improve brain functions and prevent premature aging.
BASIC ADVICE
Hypertension, diabetes and smoking dramatically increase the risk of developing Alzheimer?s disease. Make sure to control these diseases or avoid developing them by keeping a healthy body weight and a healthy diet. Keep your brain busy: mental activities such as crosswords, sudokus and mathematical games are examples of training exercise for the brain.