Most people want to get healthier, but often our motivations to do so are based on superficial, short-term goals, like fitting into tight pants for a party. Once that goal is passed, we return to poorer health – but perhaps we would take better care of ourselves if we recognized that the lifestyle choices we make today, right this minute, can have ripple effects that affect our health and well-being decades down the road.
Take Alzheimer’s disease. Because it is a condition of old age, many people do not begin to worry about it until at least their mid-60s. At that point, they can start playing brain training games to try to ward it off. But the wheels of Alzheimer’s disease may have already started turning long before then.
Rather than originating in the brain late in life, there are increasing clues that Alzheimer’s is triggered by persistent inflammation in “peripheral” organs such as the skin, lungs or gut in mid-life, around age 45 to 60. Inflammation caused by eczema, cold sores, pneumonia, gum disease, high blood pressure, high blood pressure, other things in the stomach and intestinal infections. to increase the risk of getting Alzheimer’s later in those with genetic susceptibility – and they can all be solved today, not in old age.
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The wheels of Alzheimer’s disease can start turning long before old age
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Frailty is another classic “old age” condition characterized by weaker strength and less mental and physical resilience. But there is a growing understanding that it can also start much earlier.
This rethinking of “old age” conditions should encourage us to lay down healthy habits at least by midlife as insurance for the future. Some of the things already known to stave off Alzheimer’s disease and frailty include regular exercise, good brushing habits and active social lives. Getting vaccines against shingles, flu or tuberculosis around age 50 also appears to be protective against Alzheimer’s.
This midlife tune-up is worth doing. If nothing else, it will hopefully ensure you’re mentally sharp enough when you’re 90 to remember to wear that amazing outfit to your 50th birthday party.
