CANADIAN LIVING OCTOBER 2019 | 73Myth
Social networking
is for teens.We know that regular
exercise and a plant-
focused diet improve memory, cognition and
overall brain fitness, but maintaining and build-
ing relationships is also key to healthy aging,
says Christene. “Many people don’t realize that
social isolation is a risk factor for dementia.
When you’re secluded, you’re not giving your
brain an opportunity to learn new things and
engage in meaningful conversation and
debate.” So go ahead and plan that party, cof-
fee date or walk in the park with your besties...
and make it happen.Truth
Myth
Alzheimer’s is an
old person’s disease.While age is the
number one risk
factor for Alzheimer’s, genetics can also
play a role—especially in young-onset types
of the disease—but you can reduce your
chances of developing it. It’s never too late
to implement healthy habits, according to
Dr. Greenwood: “We’re seeing benefits from
lifestyle changes in people in their mid-
seventies!” According to a 2010 study pub-
lished in medical journal Hypertension,
participants (people above the age of 50
who had recently changed their diets and
improved their exercise habits) performed as
if they were nine years younger on reading
and writing tests after just four months of
their new routines.Truth
1.4 MILLION
CANADIANS
are expected to develop
Alzheimer’s or dementia by
the year 2031, almost three-
quarters of them women.MODERATE
ALCOHOL
CONSUMPTION
(one drink a day) is fine.
In fact, in moderation, the
antioxidant resveratrol
that’s found in red wine may
actually help protect the
brain and nerve cells.ALZHEIMER
SOCIETY
of Canada recommends
following a Mediterranean diet,
rich in fruits and vegetables,
beans and nuts, healthy
grains, fish and olive oil, which
has been associated with
lower levels of inflammation
and oxidative stress, both
detrimental to the brain
and other organs.THE BRAIN
MAKES UP TWO
PERCENT
of our body weight but
receives 20 percent of
our blood supply.mind
matters