A German expert: "Alzheimer's" is more common in women

Neuropsychologist Professor Jessica Caldwell confirmed that Alzheimer's disease is more prevalent among women, pointing to a number of risk factors for women only, chief among them the loss of the estrogen hormone after menopause.

Caldwell explained: “The hormone estrogen is very important to maintaining brain health and its ability to form new cells and connections, which is known as neuroplasticity. Estrogen also regulates inflammation and has a role in protecting cells from death. This means that losing estrogen will lead to a loss of these benefits, in addition to other effects. This hormone plays many important roles in the brain and the body as a whole.

Caldwell added that about a third of Alzheimer's disease cases worldwide can be attributed to avoidable risk factors, as changes in the structure and function of the brain that accompany the disease begin decades before symptoms appear, so preventive plans must be worked out and applied earlier. Than we previously thought.

Caldwell stated that adhering to a healthy diet is very important for women: “Although we cannot completely prevent dementia, studies have shown that adhering to a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits and contains little saturated fats and processed foods, such as the White Sea diet. The medium, or MIND diet, improves cognitive perception and maintains mental abilities with age. ”

In addition, regular physical activity is an important preventive strategy, as “exercise increases the level of neurotransmitters, which enhance memory, which positively affects the work of brain regions involved in receiving new information and sending it to long-term memory centers. Also, exercise reduces the negative effects of diabetes, and protects against stress and depression, which are among the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, ”according to the German expert.

And Caldwell considered that maintaining brain activity and using thinking skills plays a prominent role in preventing Alzheimer's: “Doing actions that require intellectual effort, discussing with friends, watching a movie that stimulates thinking, solving crosswords, and enjoying games online are examples of useful intellectual activities, That promotes brain health ».