Defeating Dementia ~ Review

Defeating Dementia 
What You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Other Forms of Dementia
By Richard Furman MD, FACS

Dementia. 

Alzheimer's. 

Both words conjure up feelings of dread - fear of what may be ahead. But what does one truly know about this topic? In Defeating Dementia Richard Furman attempts to educate the reader in both the stages of Alzheimer's and the steps one can take to reduce the risks of developing this dreaded condition.

Offering personal insights into his mother-in-law's progression through the stages of Alzheimer's Dr. Furman shares the slow and steady mental decline of a loved one. These insights are offered throughout the book as the disease is explained in terms that most people can readily understand. Possible causes are explored as well as lifestyle changes one can make when diagnosed to hopefully slow the progression. Those who have no symptoms can also benefit by taking proactive measures to hopefully stop dementia before it starts.

One statement that is worth memorizing (per Dr. Furman on page 81) is "a healthy brain depends on the health of the heart as well as the arteries of the heart and the brain." The heart-brain connection is vital as it supplies the brain with the oxygen and the nutrients it needs while removing waste from the brain. 

The five risk factors that one needs to eliminate (high cholesterol, a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, high blood pressure, and diabetes) are examined, with each having a chapter devoted to each. Similarly, the lifestyle changes one can make are also covered in their own chapters. A healthy diet which is more plant-based while eliminating saturated fats, sugar, and alcohol. Sample meals are presented so that the reader has an idea of what to eat. Achieving an ideal weight is important with tips on how to make it happen. Exercising so that one has regular physical activity thus increasing blood flow to the brain and offering other heart and brain health benefits. The final change is to stay mentally and socially active - in other words, exercise your brain by making it work.

I highly recommend this book to any and all readers as it is beneficial to everyone and it is never too early or even too late to make a change. There is always something one can do to extend the health of one's life and by following these recommendations this has both physical and mental benefits.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher Revell with no expectation of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.

  

About the Book:

In the fight against dementia, the most powerful player is you.

Dementia. It's one of the most dreaded conditions we face as we age. Many people claim they would rather be diagnosed with cancer than Alzheimer's. What many don't realize is that dementia is not a forgone conclusion as we get older. Our own lifestyle choices and habits can have a significant impact--for good or ill--on our chances of developing the disease.

And that means there's hope.

Drawing from the latest medical research, Dr. Richard Furman helps you understand dementia and Alzheimer's and shows you how to make three powerful lifestyle changes that can help decrease the probability of developing this disease. He explains how eating the right foods, exercising, and sustaining an ideal weight can dramatically reduce the likelihood of developing dementia in the first place, and how these habits can even slow the progression of the disease in someone who has already received a diagnosis.

If you or your loved ones are concerned about Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, let this book be your guide into a healthy future.