Mediterranean diet includes a rich variety of flora and fauna, such as fruits and vegetables, bread, cereals, olive oil, fish and red wine. Mediterranean diet is a very balanced nutritional source for the body. It has been observed that people relying heavily on this diet are less prone to Alzheimer’s disease. The secret lies in its effective cardiovascular effect. Cardiovascular effect is a mechanism which helps in balancing good cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels in the heart, thus increasing the efficiency of blood distribution in the body. 

Postmortem tests, conducted on humans and animals alike, have led the scientists to believe that long term usage of of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) help reduce inflammation related with amyloid plaques, one of the main causes of Alzheimer’s. NSAIDs are non-narcotic analgesics, with antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes them effective in several cases. Its properties are very similar to those of steroids. Their constant use, however, is not advisable for health reasons. 

Spices from South Asia have medicinal properties, and one of them, turmeric, has been found to be a deterrent to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that help in preventing damage to brain cells, improving mental health. This is necessary as plaques (beta-amyloid protein deposits in nerve cells) cannot form in healthy cells. Turmeric is also anti-amyloid (avoiding formation of amyloid proteins), antioxidant (avoiding oxidizing of molecules in the body) and anti-arthritic (avoiding joint disorders, thus reducing stress in the brain), all of which are necessary to keep the body and the brain healthy. Consumption of turmeric in food, such as curry and South Asian food, can guarantee the intake of sufficient amount of the spice to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Brain, like the body, needs proper workout in order to stay fit. Intellectual activities, such as reading, writing, playing and solving puzzles, ensure proper usage of the nervous system and the brain itself, thus delaying the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. So, in order to reduce the risk, one should involve himself/herself in intellectual activities daily. Apart from keeping Alzheimer’s disease at bay, it also helps in healthy development of brain tissues and nervous system.

Tobacco escalates the rate of the death of brain cells. In some cases, this rate outpaces the rate of cell generation, aggravating the onset of the Alzheimer’s disease. It has been found that chain and heavy smokers run a high risk of contracting Alzheimer’s disease than non-smokers. Even passive smokers, people who are in the vicinity of smokers, run a high risk of contracting this disease. So, it is advisable to reduce smoking to minimal levels or quit it altogether.

Marijuana has an ingredient called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) that prevents the formation of deposits of amyloid proteins in the brain, thus fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Consumption of medical marijuana, rather than raw marijuana, reduces the chances of the disease’s occurrence. However, consumption of marijuana is harmful for other aspects of body health, and should be refrained from in most cases.

It has also been found that regular coffee drinkers, in their mid-life, run extremely low risks for Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the chances of developing the disease is reduced by more than fifty percent in coffee drinkers. 

It has been found that moderate consumption of alcohol, especially red wine, reduces the chances of the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease due its cardiovascular effect. Cardiovascular effect is a mechanism which helps in balancing good cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels in the heart, thus increasing the efficiency of blood distribution in the body. It should also be noted, however, that this consumption should be within the limits, as unrestrained drinking can, in fact, aggravate other health crises.