Dementia is preventable through lifestyle. Start now - Max Lugavere

#brain_health, #diet, #habits

• Personal Connection to Dementia: Max Lugavere shares his personal journey of coming to terms with his mother's early onset dementia, which spurred him to delve deep into understanding the role of lifestyle choices in mediating the risk of neurological diseases, including dementia.

• Dementia is Potentially Preventable: Lugavere highlights recent scientific discoveries that indicate a substantial proportion of dementia cases can be prevented through lifestyle adjustments. He refers to a consensus among 109 leading scientists and clinicians globally who, in 2014, acknowledged the preventable nature of the disease, emphasizing that the field is rapidly evolving with most of the knowledge about Alzheimer's being acquired in the last 15 years.

• Dietary Impact on Brain Health:

  • Historical Perspective: Lugavere discusses the historical evolution of human diet, noting that the modern deviation from the nutrient-rich diets of our hunter-gatherer ancestors to a grain-based diet has had adverse effects on brain health.
  • Modern Diet and Nutrient Deficiency: He criticizes the modern diet dominated by wheat, corn, and rice, which are the basis of many processed foods, for being nutrient-deficient and leading to widespread vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
  • Insulin and Brain Health: Lugavere talks about the negative effects of chronically high carbohydrate diets that lead to elevated insulin levels, potentially explaining why 40% of Alzheimer's cases might be attributed to high insulin levels.
  • Nutrient-Dense Foods: He advocates for a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods such as dark leafy greens, avocados, and humanely-raised grass-fed red meat, which are high in nutrients and beneficial for brain health. He warns against high glycemic load foods, including certain fruits, which have been associated with detrimental effects on the brain.

• Exercise and Brain Health:

  • Aerobic Exercise: Lugavere emphasizes the importance of aerobic exercise, encouraging people to incorporate as much movement as possible into their daily lives to foster brain health.
  • Strength Training: He also promotes strength training, explaining that stronger muscles enhance brain function and efficiency, as the stimulus required to build muscles also benefits brain cells.

• Call to Action for Brain Health: Lugavere concludes by urging the audience to make brain-healthy choices, emphasizing the critical role the brain plays in enabling all activities we cherish. He encourages people to protect their brain health through informed lifestyle choices, starting at any age, to prevent dementia and maintain a high quality of life.