These are common concerns among people who have never had direct contact with someone living with Alzheimer’s disease, and the answers help clarify some very simple but important issues. Can Alzheimer’s disease be prevented? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the risk of dementia can be reduced by up to 40%. We can delay or reduce the risk of dementia through higher levels of education, regular physical activity, social interaction, cognitive stimulation, and by avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and other addictive substances. In practical terms, this means not drinking alcoholic beverages, not smoking, and not using other harmful substances. Preventing Alzheimer’s disease also involves taking care of your vision and hearing, as well as preventing cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. All of these measures can and should be adopted throughout life, with medical guidance whenever necessary. You often forget where you put your keys and are worried? Some types of forgetfulness may be a normal part of aging, while others may be related to conditions that do not directly affect memory, such as attention problems, fatigue, sleep disorders, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Today, it is possible to distinguish between age-related memory changes, which generally do not interfere with essential daily activities, and memory changes that are caused by disease or represent the first signs of a memory-related or neurodegenerative condition. Specialized memory clinics and neurology consultations can help determine whether forgetfulness is a normal part of aging or an early warning sign of a more serious condition. If you have concerns about your memory, consult your doctor. Do brain-training games promoted on social media help prevent alzheimer’s disease? Many of the brain-training games promoted on social media may not be suitable for you. If we repeatedly perform the same exercise, we may become very good at that specific task, but this does not necessarily improve other cognitive abilities. There are cognitive stimulation software programs designed for both healthy individuals and people living with dementia. These tools have been properly validated by various neurological organizations and are available to help stimulate the brain in a correct and effective way. Author : Sofia Nunes Oliveira (neurology) Meet the neurology clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item. English translation generated with AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
