So, What Can You Do?

Our knowledge about AD is growing rapidly as scientists expand their understanding of the many factors involved in this devastating disease. Although no treatments or drugs have yet been proven to prevent or delay AD, people can take some actions that are beneficial for healthy aging and that also might reduce the effect of possible risk factors for AD. For example, you can:

• exercise regularly
• eat a healthy diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables
• engage in social and intellectually stimulating activities
• control type 2 diabetes
• lower high blood pressure levels
• lower high blood cholesterol levels
• maintain a healthy weight

These actions lower the risk of other diseases and help maintain and improve overall health and well-being. However, it is important to remember that they will not necessarily prevent or delay AD in any one person. Even if these actions were eventually proven effective, they might not offset a person’s individual genetic and other risk factors enough to prevent the development of AD.

Whether you have memory problems or not, you can take one more important action—volunteer to participate in research. Participating in clinical trials is an effective way to help in the fight against AD. People who participate in these studies say that the biggest benefit is having regular contact with experts on AD who have lots of practical experience and a broad perspective on the disease. They also feel they are making a valuable contribution to future knowledge that will help scientists, people with AD, and their families.

People who are interested in joining an AD clinical trial can visit the website of the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center, a service of the NIA, at www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers or call the ADEAR Center toll-free at 800-438-4380 for a referral to the nearest participating study site. Visit www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/ClinicalTrials for more about AD clinical trials.

Families interested in participating in the AD Genetics Study can call the National Cell Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease (NCRAD) toll-free at 800-526-2839. Information is also available on the NCRAD website at www.ncrad.org.

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