Let’s face it… Nobody likes getting sick, and I think one of the scariest diseases is cognitive decline.

I can’t think of a worse condition than losing control of one-self, don’t you agree?

While the most common forms of dementia are the result of aging, it can also occur in younger people.

I have invested a lot of time researching this disease, gathering all the information available to learn how we can prevent – and in many cases, even improve – this condition for those who suffer from it.

But first, what is dementia?

Dementia is a progressive neurological disorder that causes permanent or recurring loss of memory, language ability, problem-solving skills, and other cognitive capacities that leaves a person incapable of managing everyday life on their own. There are various different varieties of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most prevalent.

Researchers have found that almost 10% of US adults aged 65 and over have dementia, while another 22% have mild cognitive impairment, which is serious – and it’s getting worse.

The good news is there is a lot we can do with our diet to prevent this disease.

The studies are clear: a high fat intake appears to be closely related to the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. [1]

Diabetes is also a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, as are high blood pressure, depression, lack of exercise, smoking; as well as lack of brain exercise.

In essence, to prevent cognitive decline, we must start taking care of our health earlier, as new studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease-like changes – plaques and tangles – in the brain begin in our 20s, and get progressively worse over time. [2]

Just as a heart attack or a brain attack (stroke) can be significantly prevented, one can think of Alzheimer’s dementia as a ‘‘mind attack”, which can also be prevented.

By eating a raw, low-fat, plant-based diet, we support the body’s ability to unclog the arteries and better supply blood, nutrients, and oxygen to all tissues, including the brain.

On this subject, Dr. Douglas Graham explains: “Have you ever been in a room that has become stuffy because there have been too many people in it for too long? You know it when you start yawning or find it hard to concentrate. You get sleepy and then you go out, or you open the window. That’s where the expression “it’s like a breath of fresh air” comes from. A breath of fresh air is a relief, it’s a nice thing. So when you follow a raw, low-fat, vegan diet, you improve the oxygen supply to the brain cells, it’s really a breath of fresh air. You get more oxygen, the brain functions better, you think more clearly. It’s quite immediate, it’s quite predictable.

Improvements in mental functions, or what we call mental acuity, happen to practically everybody who goes on a high fruit, low fat, plant based diet: you think more clearly, you are sharper, you remember things better, you learn faster, and it is easier to pay attention.

After changing my diet to raw food, my overall mental wellbeing improved remarkably; as a result, I became more in touch with my emotions and much calmer.

There is also a curious thing I always tell people: do you remember those moments when you are telling a story and suddenly you stop because you forget what you were saying? This used to happen to me quite a lot in the past, as it does to many people, but since I changed my diet to raw food, it stopped happening completely. I am always focused on the things I am doing and have a good memory.

A low-fat vegan diet may be an effective step toward preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, just as a healthy gut has been shown to be effective against Parkinson’s disease. [3]

I cannot stress enough how important it is to take a holistic approach to health, where a raw food, low fat, vegan diet is the norm, and the sooner you start making these changes the better – not only to prevent Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia; but also other serious diseases like, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and many more.