Alzheimer’s and Taking Care of Yourself

In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, you will face some ups and downs. The diagnosis itself will be difficult to accept. Now is the time to focus on living a healthier life to help you prepare to live well and spend your energy on what is most valuable to you.

Living a healthy life with alzheimer’s disease

Living a healthy life with Alzheimer’s means focusing on those elements of your life that impact your experience living with dementia. When you maintain your physical, spiritual, emotional, and social health, you can reap some significant benefits.

Your first goal should be to educate yourself about the disease. You can work with your physician, family, and friends to develop coping strategies while you plan for the future. This is a solid foundation for coping with the daily changes and potential obstacles.

Take care of your physical health

Taking care of your physical health will help you live well with the diagnosis for as long as possible. Follow these tips:

• Schedule regular checkups with a physician you trust.
• Establish a routine for diet and exercise.
• Create a care team that understands your health needs and can help you monitor your progress.
• Rest when you are tired and be mindful of overextending yourself.
• Drink only minimal amounts of alcohol.
• Do not change medications and/or dosages without first checking with your doctor.
• Exercise

Many studies show the benefits of physical activity for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early-stage Alzheimer’s. These studies suggest that mild-to-moderate physical activity can slow the decline in cognitive skills, improve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and may reduce the risk of falls. Evidence also shows that exercise may help brain cells by increasing blood and oxygen flow. Research has strong evidence that physical activity may help overall brain health by imparting benefits to the cardiovascular system.