Preventing a Devastating Disease

Research continues to build in support of the positive effects of a diet that is very low in red meat and high in plant based foods including grains and monounsaturated fats as well as lean proteins such as some types of fish and legumes.
There are many types of disease that this type of intake along with exercise (daily) will impact. It also will impact ones longevity.
Recently I read a brief synopsis of two additional studies. One was a long term study of almost 2000 persons in NYC. The study followed the persons over time as they aged. The results are not causal.. meaning we cannot say that for certain that the lifestyle prevented the illness or caused the illness but that a strong association was found. I feel that as studies such as these continue to provide the same results, the association becomes very strong. That being said, people who adhered to the diet noted above reduced their risk of Alzheimer’s by about 40% while people who had the highest levels of physical activity reduced their risk by 33%. These numbers are comparisons to the people in the study who did neither, and according to Nikolaos Scarmeas, the author and lead researcher from Columbia University, doing both will reduce the risk by 60%.

Separately, there has been some movement in the genetic field with a possible susceptibility noted for the ApoE gene.

The take home message would be that, independently, eating a less processed, less meaty diet will improve health and can reduce the chances of being afflicted with several devastating diseases. Independently, moderate physical activity on a near daily basis will reduce the chances of getting several diseases and dieing from them.

Doing both will get YOU the most protection and if you have a gene or predisposition to a disease, then you need to do these two things more than anyone!

Alzheimer’s is a devastating merciless disease. If you are told that you can decrease your chances of getting it by all means, it isn’t so hard, please do it. Alzheimer’s has secondary victims..It isn’t just about you.

And as another physician was quoted as saying in this same WSJ piece, “Healthy diet and exercise is part of a package of lifelong healthy living.” Dr. Knopman also noted that this can’t start at age 70.. you have to eat right and exercise NOW. Of course, if you are 70 and reading this, it isn’t too late for you…