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1. Keep your mind active: Activities that stimulate your brain help strengthen your mind. Learning new things, playing games such as chess, doing crosswords or reading will keep your mind busy and healthy.

It is never too late to start learning new things. Learn more.

2. Keep your body active: Exercise is very important to keep a good flow of blood to your brain and can even help create new brain cells. It can also reduce the risk of other problems such as heart conditions or diabetes that make Alzheimer’s more likely.

A little exercise can help with many problems. Find out how to improve your fitness.

3. Keep your life active: Having an active social life will make your brain more relaxed and will give it plenty of new things to process, keeping it stronger. Join a club, volunteer, take a class or simply have an active group of friends.

4. Eat healthy: Eating well can help prevent many problems that cause brain damage, and so help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Eat a low fat, low cholesterol diet with antioxidants. Green tea and dark-colored fruits and vegetables have a lot of antioxidants. Get tips on how to eat healthy.

5. Drop bad habits: Quit smoking, drink alcohol in moderation and avoid any drugs. Those habits are very bad for your brain. Find out how to quit.

6. Visit the doctor: Doctors can help you find out if you or a member of you family has a disease. They can also give you more information about how to prepare for Alzheimer’s. Get help finding or paying for your doctor.

7. Start today! Don’t waste a minute, start protecting your mind right now!