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Life Lessons: Stop your brain from aging

By Nancy Werteen, Anchor / Reporter,
Published On: Jul 31 2013 04:00:00 AM CDT

Life Lessons Stop your brain from aging

About 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease and the risk increases as people grow older.

We show you what women can do to save their brain and lower their Alzheimer's risk.

Every 68 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer's, but switching up your routine may help avoid this debilitating disease.

Doing activities that are out of the norm -- like brushing your hair with the opposite hand -- activates regions of the brain that are not usually stimulated, lowering the risk of memory impairment and Alzheimer's.

Also, start doing push-ups daily.

Seven push-ups or more a day can stimulate blood flow to the brain and help generate new brain cells.

Finally, take a break and relax.

High levels of the stress hormone cortisol can damage the hippocampus -- the region of the brain responsible for memory.

Relaxation techniques like deep breathing can increase the size of the hippocampus in as little as eight weeks.

Diet can play a big role in a person's Alzheimer's risk.

Apples stimulate acetylcholine production, a neurotransmitter that does the same thing as a common Alzheimer's drug.

Coffee also protects the brain by blocking the buildup of Alzheimer's brain toxins.

In fact, drinking three to five cups of coffee a day may cut the risk of developing the disease by 65%.