Retirement has many challenges.
I recently took a DNA test by "23 and me" and my DNA indicates I have the Apoe4 gene which put me at a higher risk of late onset Alzheimer's disease.
My increased risk at age 85 is about "1 in 2" versus "1 in 8" without this gene. However, the above risk numbers does not account for better diet and exercise. This "may" explain why 1 in 2 did NOT develop Alzheimer at age 85 even though they had the same Apoe4 gene.
To lower my risk, I decided to do the following:
DIET: Follow the MIND diet which minimize eating red meat, processed meat, white bread, sweets. I have increased my consumption of fish and chicken and plant food such as leafy luttuce, olive oil, etc. I still eat occasionally at an expensive steak house while following the MIND diet but I will never eat at McDonald's or other fast food because I have a cap of how much red meat I can eat. Since quantity of red meat is out, quality is in.
EXERCISE: I now go to the gym every morning to workout about 1 hour and follow the American Heart Association's recommendation for exercising. I discovered that doing exercises that helps your heart also helps your brain.
LEARNING: I decided to learn another language. I need to stimulate and challenge my brain. I am age 67 and I decided that my brain will NOT retire.
SOCIAL LIFE: I have become more friendly simply because I realize that making new friends will help energize and exercise my brain. I now do unpaid volunteer work and I reach out to more people.
MEDIATION: I do mediation to allow my brain to rest during the day. I discovered mediation lowers my heart rate and I feel better mentally after mediation I also make sure I get enough sleep. Mediation during the day and good sleep at night helps me "defrag" my brain.
I am lucky that I do not need any prescription medication at age 67. I had followed a healthy life style when I was young. I was in the US Army for 7 years which emphasized physical training. When I became a civilian, I used to commute by bicycle 4 hours a day for about 5 years. My co-workers thought I was crazy because my house was 20 miles away from work.
When my DNA indicated that I have a higher risk of Alzheimer's, I was determined to accept this as simply another challenge to my life.
My quality of life has improved and money has become less important to me. I am actually glad to discover that I have the APO4 gene because I avoided becoming complacent in my retirement.
What you do during your retirement is really up to you.
I recently took a DNA test by "23 and me" and my DNA indicates I have the Apoe4 gene which put me at a higher risk of late onset Alzheimer's disease.
My increased risk at age 85 is about "1 in 2" versus "1 in 8" without this gene. However, the above risk numbers does not account for better diet and exercise. This "may" explain why 1 in 2 did NOT develop Alzheimer at age 85 even though they had the same Apoe4 gene.
To lower my risk, I decided to do the following:
DIET: Follow the MIND diet which minimize eating red meat, processed meat, white bread, sweets. I have increased my consumption of fish and chicken and plant food such as leafy luttuce, olive oil, etc. I still eat occasionally at an expensive steak house while following the MIND diet but I will never eat at McDonald's or other fast food because I have a cap of how much red meat I can eat. Since quantity of red meat is out, quality is in.
EXERCISE: I now go to the gym every morning to workout about 1 hour and follow the American Heart Association's recommendation for exercising. I discovered that doing exercises that helps your heart also helps your brain.
LEARNING: I decided to learn another language. I need to stimulate and challenge my brain. I am age 67 and I decided that my brain will NOT retire.
SOCIAL LIFE: I have become more friendly simply because I realize that making new friends will help energize and exercise my brain. I now do unpaid volunteer work and I reach out to more people.
MEDIATION: I do mediation to allow my brain to rest during the day. I discovered mediation lowers my heart rate and I feel better mentally after mediation I also make sure I get enough sleep. Mediation during the day and good sleep at night helps me "defrag" my brain.
I am lucky that I do not need any prescription medication at age 67. I had followed a healthy life style when I was young. I was in the US Army for 7 years which emphasized physical training. When I became a civilian, I used to commute by bicycle 4 hours a day for about 5 years. My co-workers thought I was crazy because my house was 20 miles away from work.
When my DNA indicated that I have a higher risk of Alzheimer's, I was determined to accept this as simply another challenge to my life.
My quality of life has improved and money has become less important to me. I am actually glad to discover that I have the APO4 gene because I avoided becoming complacent in my retirement.
What you do during your retirement is really up to you.