67 out of every 1,000 older Americans have been diagnosed with some form of Alzheimer's. By 2050, more than 26 million people worldwide will be living with Alzheimer's disease.  Will you be one of them?

What can you do now to slow the onset of Alzheimer's or possibly to avoid its devastating  destruction of your brain?

Here are four tips experts believe can help you keep your brain healthy.

 1. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and heart-healthy fats

People who do eat the "Mediterranean Diet" have a lower risk of Alzheimer's, according to studies.

This diet also includes Omega-3s, the fats found in fish oils.  Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, came to the conclusion the Omega-3 fatty acids may also  benefit those patients already in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's. Also the Framington Heart Study found possible evidence that high levels of the "good" fish fat may help you actually avoid Alzheimer's, although that is still a theory.

2. Exercise

Housework and yard work may have greater benefits than you think. 

Walking around the block could also help keep your brain  youthful. 

Researchers believe this is because even simple exercise can lower your chance of developing vascular dementia, which is the second most common form of dementia.  That  agrees with a Scottish study's findings that the more physically active a senior is during his later years, the better his memory skills.  Some scientists go even farther stating they believe exercise can actually change the physical structure of the brain.

3. Get social

The American Medical Association's Archives of General Psychiatry reports lonely people may have twice the risk of Alzheimer's.

That's possibly because social isolation, or a limited social life, may cause a person to lose social skills. Because the neural systems which control social behavior may not be exercised, the person's brain may not be able to deal with such diseases as Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

Getting involved with others also helps you stay connected emotionally which can save you from feelings of isolation and despair.

4. Keep your mind stimulated

People who read, do crossword puzzles, attend adult education classes, or are involved in other mentally stimulating activities seem to be delaying Alzheimer's, according to more studies.

So is it really possible intellectual brain exercise can help your brain fight dementia?

Some scientists think so based on the brain's cognitive reserve.  This is the brain's ability to compensate for the loss of nerve cells often caused by Alzheimer's.

Researchers do not know for sure, but suspect keeping your brain mentally sharp can help establish new brain cell connections. Some scientists state they believe mental exercise can even help you grow new brain cells.

More Alzheimer's research needs to be done, but our knowledge about this terrible disease is increasing daily.  While we anticipate a cure, we can still keep ourselves healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally, which could possibly help us avoid Alzheimer's altogether.

Popularity: 19% [?]

• Alzheimer's Risk Gene in Families An Alzheimer's risk gene runs in families, according to Dr. Sudha  Seshadri of the Boston University School of Medicine. But that doesn't mean you will get it if you have this gene. ApoE4 is the Alzheimer's gene and about 20 to 25 percent of the population carries it. But Dr. Seshadri......
• Fun Activities To Do With Seniors Who Have Dementia There are many activities you can do with seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Keeping dementia patients occupied and alert is not only important for their wellbeing but also aids in socialization. Here are some of the most favorite and successful activities used by caregivers. 1. Ball Roll The object is......
• Heavy Elderly Are Not At Risk for Memory Loss Elderly adults who are overweight do not have to worry about increased dementia, according to a new study.It has been commonly believed obesity in older people contributed to such conditions as Alzheimer's because extra weight can aid high blood pressure and diabetes. But not so  with aging adults.  In fact, the......
• Blood Test to Test for Early Signs of Alzheimers Disease  Has a blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease finally been discovered?Will it be possible to obtain an accurate diagnosis for Alzheimer's instead of the laborious and complicated diagnosis patients receive now?Keep in mind many experts don't believe you can get a complete Alzheimer's diagnosis, even with a testing team which may......
• The 7 Stages of Alzheimer's Here's an informative article from the Alzheimer's Association on the different stages of Alzheimer's. In the earliest stages it is difficult to determine anything is wrong, according to the article. It is around stages three and four that such warning signals as the person's forgetfulness and lack of basic......

• Bringing Sexy To The Back A man minus his shirt has become the standard image to communicate male sex appeal. As such, broad shoulders that taper into a smaller waist creating a V-shape have become the fitness goal of many men. There is one component of this shape, however, that many men overlook – the......
• Explaining the ‘Mental’ Side of Weight-Loss This is a guest article written by Dr. Michael A. Snyder, MD, FACS, creator of FullBar. The major barrier to weight loss is accepting the need to change your diet, behaviors, AND relationship with food. These changes require a commitment. And, all of us know that commitments are very difficult!!......
• Quick Tips for Healthy Weight Loss pt 1 Here is a handful of quick tips that will help you achieve healthy, natural and permanent weight loss. 1 - Researchers have conducted a study talking about how eating fewer meals may relate to weight loss, and what they found is that people that do not get a healthy breakfast......
• 4 Heart Healthy Exercises If you want to get on the road to a healthy and full life, you need to focus not only on losing weight, but also doing exercises that are going to benefit your most powerful organ, your heart. It may be tough at first, but it's important that you......
• Benefits to Exercise: Cardiovascular Fitness “I run because it’s my passion, and not just a sport. Every time I walk out the door, I know why I’m going where I’m going and I’m already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. Running, to me, is more than just a......