This study comes as no surprise to regular readers of this newsletter, as I have run a number of articles about the natural ways you can prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease with dietary and lifestyle changes.

As the population continues to age, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease is expected to triple, as the greatest known risk factor of Alzheimer's is age. About 4.5 million people are affected today and the prevalence doubles every five years after the age of 65. In fact, if current population trends continue, it is estimated some 13.5 million Americans will have Alzheimer's disease by 2050.

Experts are calling this great increase in Alzheimer's cases a "looming public health disaster" that could potentially turn into an unmanageable health care crisis.

Aside from the great emotional and physical toll the disease can take, an Alzheimer's epidemic will have devastating consequences for the health care economy. It is estimated the annual Medicare spending for beneficiaries with from Alzheimer's will increase four-fold by 2025, to $294 billion, and will be over $1 trillion by 2050. Not to mention, Medicaid spending on people with Alzheimer's will reach $32 billion by 2020 and $118 billion by 2050.

What's important to understand, though, is that Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging, and there are ways to reduce your chances of getting the disease.

Six Guidelines to Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

1. Eat a Nutritious Diet. One of the best things you can do to prevent dementia -- and a variety of other chronic disease -- is to follow the diet described in my Total Health Program. The premise is to increase the amount of fresh vegetables, which are high in folate, in your diet and restrict grains and sugars. More likely than not, this will resolve cholesterol and blood pressure issues. It will also strengthen your body, allowing it to fight off a host of diseases, not to mention give you increased amounts of energy.

   I also recommend consuming high-quality fish or cod liver oil so you can meet the optimal amount of omega-3 fats needed to achieve good health and fight Alzheimer's. It is important to find a fish or cod liver oil that is independently tested by a lab and found to conform to the highest purity guidelines. This will ensure that the oil is free of mercury and other toxins. One such brand, which I have found to be of superior quality, is Carlson's fish and cod liver oil. You can find Carlson’s and other good brands at your local health food store. If fhis is a problem for you, for your convenience we also carry these in our store.

2. Exercise. We all know that exercise is good for our cardiovascular system, but studies have found that exercise can also protect the brain, thereby warding off Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

   According to one study, the odds of developing Alzheimer's were nearly quadrupled in people who were less active during their leisure time, between the ages of 20 and 60, compared with their peers.

   Similar to a healthy diet, regular physical activity is one of those things that can significantly improve many aspects of your physical and emotional health. For the elderly, simple activities such as walking and light weight training would likely provide benefits. For those who are younger, more strenuous exercise may heighten the benefits.

3. Avoid and Remove Mercury From Your Body. Even trace amounts of mercury can cause the type of damage to nerves that is characteristic of the damage found in Alzheimer's disease. Dental amalgam fillings are one of the major sources of mercury, however you should be healthy prior to having them removed. Once you have adjusted to following the diet described in my Total Health Program, you can follow the mercury detox protocol and then find a biological dentist to possibly have your amalgams removed.

   Other sources of mercury include most seafood, thimerosal-containing vaccinations and flu shots, which contain both mercury and aluminum.

4. Avoid Aluminum. Aluminum has been widely associated with Alzheimer's disease. Your main sources of exposure are likely through drinking water and antiperspirants.

   Aluminum cookware may also be a source of exposure. Although aluminum pots are probably less problematic than the sources mentioned above, I personally would not use aluminum cookware.

5. Challenge Your Mind. Mental stimulation, such as traveling, learning to play an instrument or doing crossword puzzles, is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up the brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease.

6. Finally, try Wild Blueberry IQ, an all-natural, whole fruit softgel made from wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content that are known to guard against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.

Related Articles:

Conventional Medicine Catching Up on Treating Alzheimer's Naturally

Alzheimer Drugs Don't Work

How You Can Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Antioxidants Can Prevent Your Mind From Rotting, But They Need to Be From Food

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