Younger people don't worry about Alzheimer's. Here's why they should
When it comes to Alzheimer's disease, there's good news and
there's bad news.
The good news is that if you're in your 70s, your risk of
developing Alzheimer's is actually lower than it was a decade or two ago. But
here's the bad news. For younger people, the unhealthy habits they're indulging
in today could give them a greater risk for dementia down the road than their
grandparents face today.
Brain health, after all, is a lifelong pursuit.
"Good brain health begins in the earliest stage of
childhood and has to be addressed throughout our entire lifespan," says
Dr. William Reichman, president and CEO of Baycrest Health Sciences.
Unfortunately, most people come late to that message -- sometimes, too late. An
estimated 5.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. And even those who
don't have it live in dread of it. Opinion polls show that dementia has emerged
as the No. 1 concern among older adults.
"Most of the people who are interested in, 'How I can
keep my brain healthy?' are aging Baby Boomers because they've seen this
(dementia) in their parents and grandparents," Reichman says. "This
generation is more aware and more concerned about Alzheimer's disease than
prior generations."
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