Hello everyone! Ever since the new year, I’ve been on a health kick. And by that, I mean I’ve been reading a lot of books about health and totally intending to eventually get to the gym more often. 

The latest book I’ve been reading is “Outlive” by Peter Attia, MD. The book is all about the science of being healthier, longer. Dr. Attia explains that following the advice in the book won’t significantly extend a person’s life, maybe by about 10 years at most, but it should significantly increase the number of healthy years a person experiences, where the person can really enjoy life, live independently, and have bonus quality years with their family. 

In chapter nine, “Chasing Memory”, Dr. Attia talks about Alzheimer’s disease and ways to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Some of these methods of prevention seem so simple, I wanted to share them with all of you. The best thing is, these practices can be started at any point in life, and the earlier you start, the better off you will be, so even our younger readers should try some of these tips!

1) Flossing your teeth. It’s true! Good dental hygiene is linked to a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. If you floss every day, your brain is likely to stay healthier into your old age. 

2) Dancing. Exercise as a whole is really important for keeping your body and mind healthy, but not all exercising is created equally. It was found that complex workout routines like those found in dancing or boxing are more closely linked to a decrease in risk of dementia than simple exercises like running. I’m not a doctor, but it seems like the more involved your brain is in the exercise, the better!

3) Learning a new language. Your brain is all about making new connections. The more connections you have in your brain, the smarter you are and the healthier you are! One of the best ways to make new connections is to learn a complicated new skill, such as learning a language. I know this is a daunting task, but if you’ve ever wanted to learn a new language, take this as your incentive to try! And who knows? Your next vacation might be super fun as you converse with the locals in their language!