Advancing age is the biggest risk factor for brain disease .
Memory might not be as sharp . It ’ s common to forget new names or why you walked into a room , or to misplace your keys or glasses . These are normal experiences of aging .
Generally speaking , advancing age is also the biggest risk factor for brain disease , such as Parkinson ’ s disease ( PD ) or Alzheimer ’ s . These diseases don ’ t happen in everyone ; they are not an expected part of getting older . But if they happen to you or someone you love , they can change every aspect of your life . Even before they ever arise , it can be a source of stress just to live with the worry that they might . And one of the most difficult realities is that , unlike heart disease or diabetes , Parkinson ’ s and Alzheimer ’ s can ’ t ( yet ) be predicted or prevented . There ’ s not ( yet ) a medical test that can objectively determine your risk or track disease-related cellular changes over time . By the time brain disease is diagnosed , cells already have been damaged and symptoms typically have begun .
But of course , none of us can keep from getting older . So why do some people get brain disease , and others not ? Today we understand more about this than ever before . Researchers are hot on the trail of diagnosing disease much earlier . Imagine the difference it will make in all of our lives when diagnosis can occur well before any damage happens , in turn enabling treatment that could prevent symptoms from ever coming on . And though we aren ’ t there yet , there is still much you can do today to boost your brain health throughout life .
Advancing age is the biggest risk factor for brain disease .
Better Brain Health | Section 01 — Caring for Your Brain at Any Age 09