Alzheimer's Disease is a debilitating neurological condition and is the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, as many as 5.3 million Americans are living with the disease which causes brain cell death. As brain cells begin to fail, memory loss sets in and problems with the ability to think and function become more and more severe. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's although there are many treatment options that can improve the quality of life for those who suffer with the disease and their loved ones.

1. Control Bad Cholesterol - If you are diagnosed in middle age with having a high LDL, or bad cholesterol count, take steps to get it in control right away. You're likely aware that high cholesterol puts you at risk for heart attack and high blood pressure, but you may not know that research has shown it can be an early warning sign of Alzheimer's. Researchers at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research and the University of Kuopio in Finland collected data for over 40 years on nearly ten thousand men and women. They concluded that high total cholesterol is an early warning sign that appears 3 or 4 decades before dementia sets in, so it's important to get it under control right away.
   
   
2. Visit the Ophthalmologist - Maintaining good or excellent vision as youage can reduce your chances of developing dementia by as much as 63%. In many ways, your eyes reflect and influence your brain function, especially as you age. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System found that visiting an ophthalmologist for an exam and possible treatment at least one time later in life can cut your risk about the same amount, 64%. Get regular screenings and don't tolerate poor vision as an unfortunate fact of aging.
   
   
3. Love Your Spouse - A large study out of Sweden and Finland found that living with a significant other or being married can keep Alzheimer's at bay. Women in particular are much more vulnerable living without a partner and having a partner at midlife cut the risk of being cognitively impaired after 65 in half. Researchers theorize that having a partner for social interaction helps to increase the resistance to memory loss.
   
   
4. Spend Time Online - You read right. Researchers at UCLA have found that doing an internet search can stimulate aging brains even more than reading a book. They say that searching the internet engages complicated brain activity which in essence exercises the brain which may improve overall brain function. Brain games do even more to stimulate your mind so some researchers suggest purchasing brain fitness training software, but encourage you to make sure they're based on good science.
   
   
5. Put Vinegar on Everything - While vinegar doesn't directly fight Alzheimer's, there is evidence that other risk factors for dementia such as high blood sugar and insulin resistance can be helped with vinegar. Studies from Arizona State University point to vinegar for its help in keeping your appetite in check and helping to prevent weight gain and obesity. The acids in vinegar have been shown to help cut spikes in insulin and blood sugar by around 25%.