A senior’s eating patterns can raise the odds of diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, and even diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Consuming unhealthy foods can cause oxidative stress and increase the body’s inflammatory response, which are two factors linked to Alzheimer’s. Below you’ll find more information on the connection between diet and Alzheimer’s disease and what you can do to boost your senior loved one’s cognitive health and stave off memory loss.
Inability to Focus
Confusion and difficulty concentrating are two symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The foods seniors eat can help them focus or lead to concentration problems and prevent them from completing daily tasks or learning new things. By avoiding fried meats, vegetable shortening, sodium-rich foods, and sweet treats, seniors can reduce the risk of brain cell damage. To increase focusing abilities, your loved one’s diet should include good sources of fiber and protein, such as kale, salmon, fortified cereals, quinoa, and berries.
If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, help is just a phone call away. There are many reasons seniors might need assistance at home. Some may require regular mental stimulation due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, while others might only need part-time assistance with exercise and basic household tasks. Home Care Assistance is a leading home care service provider. Families rely on our expertly trained caregivers to help their senior loved ones maintain a high quality of life.
Disorientation
Dizziness is often attributed to a lack of sleep, but disorientation is a warning sign of early-onset Alzheimer’s. Most seniors are unaware certain foods lower their blood glucose levels and prevent some medications from working correctly. Some foods cause more blood to flow to the digestive system instead of the brain, leading to disorientation and other serious issues. To avoid these issues, your loved one’s diet should be low in sodium, free of caffeine and alcohol, and full of water-based fruits and vegetables.
Memory Problems
Diets that are high in saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods contain harmful chemicals that negatively affect brain functioning. Some examples of these items are white bread and pasta, sausage, bacon, and canned meats. These foods damage tissues and lead to lower metabolism, which are factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease. If your loved one continues to follow a diet that includes these unhealthy foods, his or her memory and learning skills could decrease at a rapid rate. To preserve his or her memory, your loved one should eat more foods with anti-inflammatory properties, such as blueberries, salmon, almonds, and Greek yogurt.
If your loved one needs help preparing nutritious meals, a home caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. In Philadelphia, homecare agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Aggression
Anger and the inability to control combative urges could be signs of Alzheimer’s. Foods that increase the risk of aggression include crackers, soups, cereals, bread, cakes, and ready-to-eat meals. Some brands of oatmeal, milk, applesauce, and popcorn contain artificial coloring that negatively affects mental health. If your loved one has frequent verbal or physical outbursts, don’t ignore these behavioral changes. Take your parent to the doctor for immediate testing. Only a doctor can diagnose the disease and make treatment recommendations.
If you’re the primary caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, you don’t have to go through it alone. Without the right assistance, Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors and their families to handle. If you’re looking for professional Alzheimer’s care, Philadelphia Home Care Assistance provides high-quality care aging adults and their families can count on. All of our hourly and live-in caregivers are trained to help seniors with Alzheimer’s live happier and healthier lives, and we also provide specialized dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. Schedule a free in-home consultation by giving us a call today at (215) 645-4663.