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THE TOP TEN FOODS TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER’S

October 13, 2017 15 Comments

9025ofuscanavoidgetting0aalzheimer27s0aever-default

I love this statistic.  I repeat it whenever I forget a name, misplace my keys, or don’t pay enough attention to my health. I shout it at my children when they come home with processed food in their pockets. And I remind Mr K&C when he burns the candle at both ends (not that he takes much notice). The statistic comes from the authors of The Alzheimer’s Solution, Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, neuroscientists who’ve dedicated their lives to understanding and preventing Alzheimer’s.

Like Susan and I, the Sherzais watched close family members ‘lose little bits of themselves’, slowly and inexorably, to dementia. Avoidable dementia, they argue, claiming that changes to diet, sleep, exercise, stress and social interaction can prevent 90% of all cases. They also claim that lifestyle changes can reverse the disease in existing patients.

The battle against Alzheimer’s has become their life’s work.

And we’re taking note.

Dementia is already the leading cause of death in England and Wales. The World Health Organisation estimates there’ll be over 135 million sufferers by 2050. At a cost of $20 trillion. So how can you ensure you’re not one of them?

The Sherzais have some very simple tips. We’re repeating them here. Because the more we’re reminded, the less of an excuse we have.  And the greater our chance of avoiding Alzheimer’s.

TOP TEN FOODS TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER’S

  • Avocados
  • Beans
  • Blueberries
  • Broccoli
  • Coffee
  • Dark chocolate
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Linseeds/flaxseeds
  • Herbal tea
  • Herbs

TOP TEN FOODS TO STOP EATING – NOW

  • Processed foods (crisps, biscuits, white bread etc)
  • Processed meats (bacon, sausages, salami)
  • Red meat
  • Chicken (yes, really)
  • Butter and margarine
  • Fried and fast food
  • Cheese (damn!)
  • Pastries and sweets
  • Sugary drinks
  • Excessive alcohol

We’ll be writing more about the Sherzais’ approach over the coming weeks and showing you how to make the little lifestyle changes that promise big rewards. If you can’t wait, their book, The Alzheimer’s Solution, is out now.

We’ll post the perfect anti-Alzheimer’s meal next week… Watch this space!

Annabel

  • Conditions: Alzheimer's, Brain and Dementia
« THE POWER OF A NAP & VENISON WITH BLACKBERRY AND APPLE SAUCE
HELP KEEP ALZHEIMER’S AT BAY: ITALIAN BEAN STEW »

Comments

  1. Susie says

    October 13, 2017 at 7:49 am

    Thanks for the heads up – just ordered the book. Got it in paperback on eBay for less than £12!

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      October 13, 2017 at 5:23 pm

      I hope you enjoy. I really like their approach and their personal story is extraordinary!

      Reply
  2. Deborah Outram says

    October 13, 2017 at 8:33 am

    That’s a pretty outstanding claim, will definitely be watching out for those follow up posts

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      October 13, 2017 at 5:24 pm

      I agree. But it fills me with optimism so I’m going to hang on to it!

      Reply
  3. Shari Garretson says

    October 13, 2017 at 5:06 pm

    Annabel, I’ve also found a book from a long-time Alzheimer’s researcher, called The End of Alzheimer’s (by Dale E. Bredesen, just out). He has a whole protocol that involves dealing with nutritional deficits, inflammation and toxins, and gives examples of patients who have reversed the dementia process.

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      October 13, 2017 at 5:27 pm

      I think (or rather very much hope) that these guys are on to something. Sadly lifestyle change doesn’t generate big research budgets, but perhaps that will change now? Thanks for suggesting Bredesen. I will take a look…

      Reply
    • Susan Saunders says

      October 13, 2017 at 8:56 pm

      Thanks so much, Shari. I’m fascinated by Dr Bredesen’s approach, particularly how he customises it for each patient. I’ve blogged about it a few times – the first post was this one https://agewellproject.com/blueprint-ageing-well-buckwheat-tabbouleh/ – but I haven’t read the book. Will look it out!

      Reply
  4. Teresa says

    October 14, 2017 at 1:46 pm

    Fantastic! I eat most of the DO eat list. Unfortunately I still eat bacon, chicken, butter, cheese, some sourdough bread and alcohol. More work to do I feel ….

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      October 15, 2017 at 4:40 pm

      I’m a great believer in the gradual approach and in not being too hardline. I still adore a bag of crisps (a treat rather than a daily snack), love butter and eat red meat every now and then. It’s probably more important to eat the Do list – as you are – than to worry unduly over the odd slice of bacon. Other research suggests cheese is often good, and we’ve written about Swiss cheese, blue cheese and feta cheese. Thanks for the comment!

      Reply
  5. Dr. Carl says

    January 8, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    Cheese has a type of Vitamin K called menaquinone 4 (MK4) which is necessary for production of sphingomyelin for the brain.

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      January 13, 2018 at 6:15 pm

      That’s great to know… Thanks for the comment. I knew there was a biological reason for my love of cheese!

      Reply
      • Dr. Carl says

        January 13, 2018 at 11:34 pm

        I just wanted to give you the heads up on a nutrient which you will hear more about in twenty years ,it is called spermidine and is involved in longevity

        Reply
        • Annabel Abbs says

          January 22, 2018 at 8:43 pm

          Ah, spermidine – we wrote about it here and i’m glad you think we’re ahead of the curve! https://agewellproject.com/need-spermidine-still-love-cheese/
          Not much has been written about it (that I could find) but I’m very keen to uncover some more research into its benefits. Watch this space and do let us know if you come across anything in the meantime… Thanks!

          Reply
          • Julia Ring says

            February 21, 2018 at 7:15 pm

            Hallo, great blog, great recipes!
            I am from the Lab, where researchers first found out that feeding spermidine to yeast, fruit flies and mice prolongs life and health span of these model organisms (Eisenberg et al., Nat Cell Biol. 2009). This rocked the scientific as well as normal media and opened a new field of research. Recently, our Lab released a study showing that spermidine positively influences health and lifespan of mice due to rejuvenating cardiovascular function (Eisenberg et al., Nat Med. 2016). Further, an epidemiological study suggests that these results may be valid in humans as well. These researchers wrote a review about the studies on spermidine and longevity recently (Madeo et al., Science, 2018), which will be available on the homepage of our Lab soon (https://molekularbiologie.uni-graz.at/en/ageing-cell-death-laboratory-frank-madeo/).
            As I am not only a passionate scientist in this filed but also love cooking, I started a food blog with spermidine-rich recipes recently (it is in German and English) http://www.ringshealthkitchen.com .

          • Annabel Abbs says

            February 22, 2018 at 9:00 pm

            Thanks Julia – that’s very interesting. I’m fascinated by spermidine but there are still very few scientists/doctors talking about it, and not many studies either. So I’m delighted to know more are coming and look forward to checking out you website… Thanks for sharing!

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Welcome to The Age-Well Project

Welcome to The Age-Well Project!
Here you’ll find easy changes for a longer, happier life. We’ve immersed ourselves in the science of longevity and distilled the research to make it work in our everyday lives. You can change the way you age: here’s how.

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Why Alzheimer’s Is A Women’s Issue

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SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, SADNESS AND BRAIN-BOOSTING BISCUITS

WHY ‘INFLAMM-AGEING’ COULD START IN THE GUT AND HARISSA-ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD

POLYAMINES – THE NEW SECRET WEAPON FOR AGEING WELL & MOROCCAN SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS.

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Everything we’ve learnt about ageing well points Everything we’ve learnt about ageing well points to a time (for women at least) in their mid-60s when the chronic conditions of ageing, like diabetes, heart disease and dementia, are - statistically - more likely to kick in. 

And we know that our reproductive hormones do so much more than prepare us to have periods and babies, we have receptors for them throughout our bodies and brains. 

Oestrogen, in particular, helps keep bones strong, blood vessels flexible, brains firing and inflammation levels low. Essentially, it wraps us up in a cosy protective cloak to keep us safe and healthy while we're able to reproduce, but once the eggs have run out - we're on our own! 

Between the average age of menopause at 51, and that time in our 60s when the chronic conditions of ageing are more likely to kick in, we have a decade or so in which it’s vital to focus on our health.

And how to do that? It’s on the blog - link in bio

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #menopause #menopausehealth #postmenopause #postmenopausefitness #postmenopausal #oestrogen #hormonalhealth
If you’re lucky enough to have good metabolic he If you’re lucky enough to have good metabolic health you might want to thank your Mum today. Recent studies have found that women who move around during their reproductive years and during pregnancy and then breastfeed for a bit pass on a compound in their milk called 3SL which provides lifelong protection against poor metabolic health. The offspring of moving, breastfeeding Mums appear to have a lower lifetime risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other chronic metabolic disease. Even gentle strolling during pregnancy and while nursing can produce this compound. So today we thank our Mums for that - as well as everything else.  Susan’s mum in the hat. Annabel’s mum in the pony tail. 

#mothersday #mothers #move #agewell #goodhealth #longevitylifestyle #longevity #walk
There’s been lots of good news for walkers recen There’s been lots of good news for walkers recently. A study published last month found that over-60s who walked between 6000 and 9000 steps a day cut their risk of heart disease (including strokes and heart attacks) by 40-50 percent, when compared to a more typical 2000 steps a day. In fact this study found that for every additional 1000 steps walked, the risk fell still further. 

How far are you walking to age well? Let us know in the comments and there’s more on the power of walking on the blog - link in bio

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #walking #womenwhowalk #womenwhohike #reversewalking #backwardswalking #walkingbackwards
A big hug from us to you to mark International Wom A big hug from us to you to mark International Women’s Day! 

The campaign this year reminds us to embrace equity as a way to recognise that each of us has different circumstances, and we need different resources and opportunities to reach an equal outcome. Of course, this is as vital in ageing and health outcomes as in every other field.  

So we’re embracing our age and hoping to grow older in a more equitable society ❤️

#internationalwomensday #embraceequity #embracequity2023 ##longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #iwd2023 #madformidlife
We’ve learned to love walking backwards! So many We’ve learned to love walking backwards! So many benefits when it comes to ageing well. 

If you’re not sure how to start or are worried about looking silly (we were) - there are lots of tips on the blog, link in bio. 

If you’re a backwards walker, let us know in comments below! 

If you’re planning to start, save this post for when you’re ready for some reverse walking 

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #walking #womenwhowalk #womenwhohike #reversewalking #backwardswalking #walkingbackwards
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