The Antiaging Movement: Preventing and Reversing Cognitive and Physical Decline
Dr. Janice Alexander | 11/01/2020
Originally featured in the November 2020 issue of Mequon Beacon.
Maintaining good health does not come by accident and is essential for preventing cognitive and physical decline. These last several months have been met with an unprecedented time in our history when we are faced with a pandemic caused by a highly contagious virus. We have all heard and are trying to follow the tips to keep us healthy including frequent hand washing, masking in public, social distancing, regular checkups with recommended vaccinations and healthy lifestyle.
We are fortunate to live in an era when we can make smart lifestyle choices to prevent and even reverse cognitive and physical decline. Most of us are aware that a healthy diet for an adult is low in carbohydrates, simple sugars and processed foods and high in fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables, unsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids. The Mediterranean diet meets all of these criteria but is not necessarily the best for weight loss. Intermittent fasting and Keto-diets are also gaining in popularity to help with weight loss. Keeping weight under control is necessary to prevent colon, breast and endometrial cancers, diabetes, depression, heart attack, stroke and early death. Increasing movement and exercise along with watching your diet is the main approach to weight control. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week with strength training with weights three times per week.
Regular checkups are needed to assess your blood pressure, cholesterol and risk for other chronic diseases such as certain cancers, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction and osteoporosis. Treating hypertension is very important in preventing decline of cognitive function, preventing stroke and heart attack, as well as dementia. Monitoring and treating lipid abnormalities prevents the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques that cut off blood supply and oxygen to the brain and heart which also cause dementia, heart and vascular disease. If your Hemoglobin A1C is over 5.8% and your fasting blood sugar is over 99 mg/dl, you are headed towards diabetes which also elevates the risk for dementia. Treating an underactive thyroid, insomnia, chronic depression and preventing chronic infection will also help to prevent cognitive and physical decline. Alerting your provider if you have unusual or persistent pain, abnormal bleeding from any orifice or fatigue can also be lifesaving!
Even in this unusual time of a pandemic, do not deny yourself proper medical care! Once the diagnosis of a problem is made, the earlier an individualized protocol can be developed to recode the affected network.The earlier the anti-aging protocol is started to stop the inflammatory process, the better the chance to preserve and maintain the affected body parts. Many of these disease processes have genetic markers and genetic testing is now becoming widely available and affordable. Protocols may vary but all include diet and exercise recommendations as well as supplementation of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The sooner you get started, the better the chance you have for complete reversal and protection.
At the Cedarburg Family Wellness and Aesthetic Center, we are happy to help you develop a personalized wellness program to fit your medical needs and lifestyle.
November issue of Mequon Beacon
*All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.