If you’ve been following our blog every week, you’ve already learned 17 ways you can prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  This week, we will summarize all these steps and give you examples of easy changes you can make today to help your brain in the long run.

The first step is to exercise.  Some people don’t like going to the gym, but that’s no excuse to stop exercising.  Try parking at the back of the parking lot instead of close to the entrance so you can walk some extra steps.  Take opportunities to play with children or grandchildren.  Start Sunday mornings with a bike ride in the park, practice yoga, or take a dance lesson.  And don’t forget to exercise your brain.  You can do sudoku or crossword puzzles or start learning a new language.

Next is nutrition.  Always consider what you’re eating: is it processed?  Does it contain refined sugar?  Remember, diabetes is one of the leading causes of Alzheimer’s disease, so avoiding sugar and carbohydrates can help you actively prevent Alzheimer’s from developing.

It is best to stay healthy naturally so that you can avoid medications and their side effects.  Instead of getting the flu shot, work on your overall health to build your immune system.  Avoid exposure to chemicals and heavy metals whenever possible.  You should eliminate chemical air fresheners and instead, switch to an essential oil diffuser.  Research the ingredients in your soaps, shampoos, and makeup.  Make sure your pots and pans for cooking are stainless steel, and do not have non-stick coatings, and avoid microwaving food.

This winter, try to implement a new sleep schedule which is regular and affords you at least eight hours of sleep every night.  One secret to sleep success is to maintain a regular eating schedule: I recommend fasting intermittently, only eating between the hours of 9am and 5pm.  While fasting, you can still enjoy water.  In fact, another important step to prevent Alzheimer’s disease is to stay hydrated.  You should drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water every day!

Another great tip is to get active and social.  Interacting socially in person instead of on the internet is essential for a healthy life.  Do something new together with friends, preferably out in the sun so you get your Vitamin D!  You can e-mail us at Please email me at info@kaplanbrainandbody.com if you would like a recommendation on the highest quality Vitamin D supplement.  Remember that sitting is not beneficial to our health – we need physical activity to stay strong.

Finally, find a sense of purpose in life.  Get involved with a charity, community group, or organization which does good work for others.  This can provide great opportunities to make friends, socialize, and change peoples’ lives for the better.  It can also help relieve stress, which is healthy all-around.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this series on Alzheimer’s Prevention.  Next week we will take a closer look at Diabetes, one of the top causes of Alzheimer’s disease.  Please read along to find out ways you can avoid Diabetes or even reverse it if you’ve already been diagnosed.

Please email me at info@kaplanbrainandbody.com to receive a copy of any or all of the previous articles that were published.

If you are interested in Dr. Kaplan’s services please contact us at 201-261-2150 or visit our website www.kaplandc.com. To download a free copy of Dr. Kaplan’s book visit  www.17waystopreventalzheimers.com/download