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How Can I Prevent It?

No one knows for sure what causes Alzheimer's disease, so any preventive measures are highly speculative at best. But it's important to remember that even if Alzheimer's runs in your family, you will not necessarily develop it yourself.

If you are concerned about the possibility that you might eventually develop Alzheimer's disease, your best strategy is to maintain a healthy lifestyle:

• Eat right and exercise regularly to keep your entire body — and especially the nerve cells in your brain — in good shape.
• It may be useful to participate regularly in mentally stimulating tasks like reading, crossword puzzles or going to the museum.
• The concept of what is good for the heart is good for the head also applies. Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol may likely decrease your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease.
• In particular, avoid cigarette smoke and air pollution as best as you can. This will help you minimize your exposure to free radicals, which some studies have implicated in the formation of nerve plaques.

Although some studies suggest a link between Alzheimer's and zinc, doctors do not recommend that you attempt to limit your daily intake. Zinc is an essential mineral and while you should avoid overdosing on zinc, you would do more harm than good by restricting your intake below the recommended daily allowance (11 mg for men, 8 mg for women).