Disease risk and chronic health conditions Physical activity helps to prevent certain diseases and chronic health conditions that are common among older adults. Older adults who are physically active have a lower risk of: Cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke) and death caused by it High blood pressure Type 2 diabetes High cholesterol Obesity…
Getting Started With Caregiving If you have never been a caregiver before, it may feel daunting at first. There might be tasks to organize, new medical terms to learn, and schedules to coordinate. If you live far away from the person who needs care, you may need to find new ways to stay in…
Manage high blood pressure Preventing or controlling high blood pressure not only helps your heart but can also help your brain. Decades of observational studies have shown that having high blood pressure in midlife — from the 40s to the early 60s — increases the risk of cognitive decline later in life. Further, in the…
Keep your mind engaged Cognitive training, which is designed to improve specific cognitive skills, appears to have benefits for maintaining cognitive health in older adults. A large randomized, controlled trial called the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial tested the effects of cognitive training — specifically memory, reasoning, or speed…
Eat healthy foods Many studies suggest that a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. In general, a healthy, balanced diet consists of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, and poultry, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. You should also limit solid fats,…