What is Alzheimer's Disease?


What is it?


 Alzheimer's is a progressive disease of memory loss and thinking difficulties. It involves protein fragments called plaques and tangles , which are suspected of disrupting communication among nerve cells in the brain.


Who is most at risk?


People over age 65,those with a family history of the disease, and those with certain genetic mutations in a gene called APOE. Mild cognitive impairment, severe head trauma, and lack of social and intellectual engagement appear to raise risk, too. there's also evidence that the odds of getting the disease with unhealthy behaviors such as smoking or as being sedentary.


How to prevent it:


" A healthy heart life-style is a brain-healthy lifestyle, " potentially reducing Alzhiemer 's disease symptoms by as much as 40%, says Pierre Tariot, director of the Banner Alzheimer's disease Institute in Phoenix and a professor at The University of Arizona Medical School. The goal is to lower inflammation to keep blood vessels and the brain cells healthy, since "the cardiovascular system provides the pipes that provide blood to our brain," says Tariot.


Follow the Mind Diet:


This diet focuses on the 10 brain-healthy foods including beans, berries, fish, nuts, vegetables, and whole grains. The diet-developed by Martha Clare Morris, a nutritional epidemiologist at Rush University's medical school, along with several colleagues-emphasizes the importance of eating these foods while severely limiting consumption of butter, cheese, and fried and fast foods. One study showed that this diet can lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's by 53% if followed rigorously. 


Exercise regularly and maintain normal blood pressure.


Get enough sleep" Aim for 7 to 8 hours a night. Beta-amyloid, one of the proteins associated with Alzheimer's, diminishes in sleep. Plus, " the brain literally clears itself out " during sleep, says Rudolph Tanzi, a neurology professor at Harvard University and director of Massachusetts General Hospital's Genetics and Aging research Unit.


Try Brain Training Excercises. The recent Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Study, funded by the National Institute On Aging, found that cognitive activities showed help in enhancing reasoning and showed promise in keeping Alzheimer's at bay.

                            Lung Cancer.....WHAT is it? WHO is the most at risk? HOW to prevent it!






        What Lung Cancer is: This form of cancer, which kills more people than breast and colon cancers combined , occurs when cells in the lungs grow rapidly and out of control. The most aggressive type is small-cell lung cancer, while the most common kind is non-small-cell cancer, which affects about 85% of patients and spreads more slowly.




      Who is most at risk? Smokers, those with a family history of the disease, and people exposed to air pollution, asbestos, radon, or secondhand smoke. Although cigarette smoking accounts for more than 80% of lung cancer cases, many nonsmokers get the disease too, and their numbers are on the rise. "All you need to get lung cancer are lungs," says Dr. David Cooke, head of general thoracic surgery at The University of California , Davis.




      How can one prevent it?


1) If you smoke, quit. And avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.


2) Pay attention to air-quality alerts. Heed community warnings to stay inside when high levels of pollutants are in the air.


3) Keep a check on radon levels to make sure they stay low. Radon, an invisible radioactive gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.


4) Eat plenty of produce: The antioxidants in produce appear to protect against cancer.


5)Request a low-dose CT scan if you are a smoker an ex-smoker. While the screening test doesn't prevent cancer , it can detect the disease earlier.

                                        April Showers bring May flowers!!




            How can you make your fitness routine blossom? How can you get the benefits of a personal trainer without spending the BIG BUCKS? What do fitness pros know that we don't?




           1) The best trainer is the one inside your head.


"Positive self-talk can motivate you to stay active. While you exercise, tell yourself you're doing a good job. You'll be more likely to exercise again the next day."




            2) A little prep goes a long way.


" Set out exercise clothes the night before. This help you roll out of bed and get moving."




            3) Success requires some inner digging.


"Try to think about inspirational people and what inspires you."




            4) Being slower and weaker can have its perks.


" Inviting a friend or family member over who is in better shape may push you harder."




            5) Remember it is easier to cut calories than to burn them.




" Some people work out for months and wonder why they are not losing more weight than they have." So remember weight loss is 80% of what you eat and 20% of working out. So when you see that last piece of pie....try sharing with a friend!