Current prevention treatment strategies aimed at reducing risk factors of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) can delay symptom onset by 3 or more years. This delay adds onto that achieved by early detection and treatment of AD, which can delay symptom progression by 2 to 4.5 years. For a typical individual who would first develop symptoms at 74 years old, prevention will push the onset of symptoms out to age 77 or older, and early detection and treatment will delay the onset of moderate dementia to between 88 and 91 years old. This combined approach means that you can avoid spending your final years in a nursing home, plus preserve your memories, abilities and live out your life with independence and dignity.

Here are the two most important things you should do to prevent the onset and progression of ADRD.

Manage Your Risk Factors for ADRD
There are many risk factors you can manage by choosing a healthy life style and by using appropriate risk-reducing treatments. These risk factors include but are not limited to:

• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Heart Disease
• High Cholesterol
• High or Low Blood Pressure
• Alcohol or Drug Abuse
• Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or Schizophrenia
• Head Injury
• Severe Estrogen (hysterectomy, menopause) or Testosterone Deficiency (andropause)

Detect the Earliest Signs of Memory Loss
Medical research shows that the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be delayed by 5 or more years. For a 74 year-old, such a 5-year delay could keep memory intact until after age 79, which is beyond the average life expectancy in the USA.

Knowing and managing your risk factors is the first step to delaying AD onset and progression.