alzheimers disease is the most common type of dementia in which the mental ability of a person declines and gradually reaches a stage where it becomes difficult for them to lead a normal life it is an incurable disease with a long and progressive course according to an ians report in india there are more than 50 lakh people suffering from dementia of which nearly 80 percent have alzheimers according to doctors this number is expected to double by 2030 but how do we determine alzheimers and how can we steer clear of it dr rajesh garg head of department director neurology fortis hospital shalimar bagh explains often memory loss is one of the first or more recognizable signs of dementiaother early signs may include asking the same questions repeatedly forgetting common words when speaking mixing words up saying bed instead of table for example taking longer to complete familiar tasks such as following a recipe misplacing items in inappropriate places such as putting a wallet in a kitchen drawer getting lost while walking or driving around a familiar neighborhood undergoing sudden changes in mood or behavior for no apparent reason becoming less able to follow directionsways to prevent memory loss while there is no scientific data to prove this theory doctors believe that there are ways to prevent memory loss related to old age dr garg elaborates keep your brain occupied and not let it be idle risk factors such as diabetes high bp and cholesterol should be closely monitored and kept under control avoid smoking and drinking take healthy diet including fresh fruits greens and dry fruits be happy and avoid stress and anxiety as they could impair memorynutrition for alzheimer patients just like any other disease nutrition plays a very important role in the prevention and tackling of alzheimers ms aditi midha neuro physiotherapist at aktivortho shares the brain needs its own brand of fuel it requires healthy fats fruits vegetables lean proteins and adequate vitamins and minerals consuming too little of these foods and too many complex carbohydrates processed foods and sugar stimulates the production of toxins in the body those toxins can lead to inflammation the buildup of plaques in the brain and as a result impaired cognitive functionhere are some diet essentials processed cheeses build up proteins in the body that have been associated with alzheimers processed meats contain nitrosamines which cause the liver to produce fats that are toxic to the brain beer contains nitrites which have been linked to alzheimers white foods including pasta cakes white sugar white rice and white bread etc causes a spike in insulin production and sends toxins to the brain microwave popcorn contains diacetyl a chemical that may increase amyloid plaques in the brain research has linked a buildup of amyloid plaques to alzheimers disease a growing number of herbal remedies dietary supplements and medical foods are