Five Everyday Habits That Quietly Increase Alzheimer’s Risk

As we age, many of us carry a quiet fear:

"What if I lose my memory? 

What if I end up like mom, dad or grandma?"

In fact, a 2020 Harris poll cited that 82% of Americans say they’re concerned about Alzheimer’s disease, and more than half worry they’ll personally develop it.

If some form of dementia runs in your family, it can feel like a guarantee.

But here’s the good news: It’s not.

Yes, there’s a genetic link. But no - it’s not a life sentence.

The truth is: Alzheimer’s is often preventable.

Dr. Dale Bredesen, neurologist and professor at UCLA, has spent years studying Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline. His research is both groundbreaking and hopeful.

Through his clinical studies (you may know of The End of Alzheimer’s), Dr. Bredesen has shown that cognitive decline can not only be prevented, but even reversed - especially when caught early.

Even if you carry the ApoE4 gene, you are not destined for Alzheimer’s.  Like you may have heard before, your genes may load the gun, but it’s lifestyle factors that often pull the trigger.

So I was listening to an interview recently between two London-based doctors, Dr. Darshan Shah and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, and Dr. Chatterjee asked a question that really stopped me in my tracks.

It wasn’t the usual: “How do we prevent Alzheimer’s?”

It was the opposite. He asked:

“What are 5 ways to get Alzheimer’s?”

And of course, the moment I heard that, my radar went up.

If you were trying to get Alzheimer’s, here’s what you’d do:

1. Bang your head often
Repeated head trauma from football, rugby, or other high-impact sports = high risk.  

2. Eat ultra-processed food
Fill your diet with sugar, white carbs, and low-nutrient, packaged foods.

3. Stay sedentary and inflamed
Avoid movement. Ignore gut health. Skip flossing. Let inflammation build.

4. Overlook toxic exposure
Let plastics, pesticides, synthetic fragrances, and hidden toxins into your life without a second thought.

 5. Stay stressed out
Overwork. Undersleep. Multitask constantly. Never pause or recharge.

And you may be thinking, I can check a few of those boxes right now. 

But here’s the good news.

There’s so much exciting root-cause research emerging right now —and truly, it’s hopeful and empowering.

We’re finally starting to understand what drives chronic illness and what helps prevent it. And that gives us power.

Tuning into our lifestyle habits is one of the most powerful things we can do. 

But the truth is, it’s not always easy.

In the rush of daily life, the hardest thing is often choosing to focus on what gives us the best chance to stay vibrant, strong, and present for a long, healthy life.

But it’s worth it - to flip the script.

To do the opposite of those five things.

Don’t wait until something catches up with you.

Don’t lull yourself into thinking you can have it all, do it all, and push your health to the side with no consequences.

Maybe you’re lucky, and you can.

But why risk it?

We're not powerless.
We're not destined to decline.
And it’s never too late to start.

Start by choosing just one area to focus on this week.

Need ideas? I'm happy to help.