A report published in Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders found that adults who struggle with chronic stress have a much greater likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life than those that do not. The reason being, one of the symptoms of chronic stress is the impairment of cognitive function. Untreated cognitive impairment can lead to the development of mild dementia, which is a precondition of Alzheimer’s. Fortunately, researchers also found that by making certain life changes, patients can greatly reduce their stress level, and also their likelihood of contracting Alzheimer’s later in life.
Of the various methods that can be used to lower a person’s stress level, it has been found that getting regular exercise and maintaining a nutritious diet of the most effective. Exercising keeps the body’s muscles and fascia flexible and strong while a nutritious diet helps our bodies function efficiently. By cutting out foods from our diet that can spike our blood sugar and blood pressure, like pastries and chips, we put less physical stress on our biological systems. Conversely, adding more stress fighting foods, like vitamin B rich kale and vitamin C rich oranges, can balance out your blood sugar, help you lose weight and reduce the overall amount of strain your body is under.
Read the full article here: Stress appears to contribute to Alzheimer’s