5 Expert-Approved Lifestyle Habits to Adopt That Protect You from Alzheimer’s Disease

If everyone in the United States added just one healthy habit, it might prevent or delay a million cases of Alzheimer’s disease that would otherwise be expected to occur over five years, says psychiatrist Gary Small, MD, director of the UCLA Longevity Center.

Adopting these routine habits has never been more important. In fact, Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth-leading cause of death for those ages 65 and older, according to a 2017 report from the Alzheimer’s Association. New data from the report revealed that deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have skyrocketed 89 percent between 2000 and 2014, while deaths from heart disease have dropped 14 percent.

While research hasn’t yet proved that lifestyle changes can indefinitely ward off the disease, Small says in his book, The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program  — “if you read the small print, the evidence is compelling.” The oldest baby boomers are now reaching their late 60s to early 70s, an age when Alzheimer’s risk starts to climb. We asked Smalls which lifestyle changes are the best for staving off Alzheimer’s disease. Try incorporating these 36 everyday habits into your daily routine to lower your risk for Alzheimer’s even more!