Alzheimer's Disease Explained: Top 5 Warning Signs & Prevention Tips

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Alzheimer's disease is the top sixth cause of death in the United States. According to CNN, the brain disease can not be prevented, cured or slowed down.

However, if symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to show, doctors believe that early treatment is the key to keeping the disease from progressing.

Dr. Keith Black, chairman of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, says: "Our hope is that if we could identify patients who are developing the disease early, it would give us a much better opportunity to intervene with treatments, and it's much more likely for those treatments to be effective."

According to Noam Kirson, from Analysis Group, Inc., technological development has improved the ability to diagnose patients with cognitive impairment like Alzheimer's disease.

Meanwhile, in terms of prevention, there are some tips that can indirectly help keep the disease at bay. Nonetheless, there is no proven way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, reports NHS UK.

Below are the top prevention tips and warning signs of Alzheimer's Disease

1. Warning Sign - Memory changes that disrupt daily life.

According to alz.org, this is the most common sign of Alzheimer's. It can occur in the following ways: forgetting information recently learned, forgetting important dates or events and asking for the same information over and over again.

2. Warning Sign - Confusion with time or place

People suffering with Alzheimer's do not only have trouble remembering dates, but also have difficulty with the passage of time, reports alz.org. In addition, the person might not remember how they arrived at a particular place.

3. Warning Sign - Words and conversations are frustrating

Web MD explains that people with Alzheimer's have difficulty recalling learned vocabulary, making speaking and writing very difficult.

4. Prevention Tip - Reduce risk of Cardiovascular Disease

According to NHS UK, cardiovascular disease is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In order to reduce the risk of heart disease NHS suggests the following:

• Stop smoking
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol
• Eat a well-balanced healthy diet
• Exercise at least 150 minutes everyday
• Regularly check your blood pressure

5. Prevention Tip - Staying mentally active

Mental, physical, and social activity has been proven to reduce the risk of dementia. NHS recommends the following activities and hobbies in order to stay active and mentally sharp:

• Reading
• Writing
• Learning foreign languages
• Playing musical instruments
• Taking part in adult education courses
• Playing tennis or golf
• Swimming
• Taking part in group sports, like bowling
• Walking