Forgetting the location of your car can be annoying, especially if it has been repeated over time.

You might think these are early signs of Alzheimer's disease, but you should know that there is a difference between normal, age-related memory slips, such as forgetting where car keys are, and more serious signs of memory loss, such as forgetting how to use car keys.

Early symptoms

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include frequent memory loss, lack of precise location, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, difficulty dealing with financial matters, especially paying bills, as well as mood changes and personal fluctuations.

According to the British health site NHS, attention should be paid to some other factors that contribute to Alzheimer's disease, such as hearing loss, untreated depression, feeling lonely or socially isolated, and an unstable lifestyle.

Experts now believe that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is not limited to old age, but in fact it can start in the brain long before symptoms are discovered, often in middle age.

This means it is never too early to start taking care of your brain health.

According to the Help Guide charity website, by adopting a brain-healthy lifestyle, you can increase your chances of preserving your cognitive abilities for life.

To get there, there are 7 pillars that can be controlled, which are:

Playing sports

According to the Alzheimer's Research & Prevention Foundation, regular physical exercise can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 50%.

Dr. Jad Marshall - Assistant Medical Director for Clinical Trials at the Center for Research and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease at Harvard University's Brigham Hospital, said in an article on the "Health" website - that physical exercise helps prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease, and that 30 minutes of exercise is necessary. Of moderate exercise, 3 to 4 days a week.

Doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily may protect you from Alzheimer's disease (German)

Social sharing

Usually as we get older we become more isolated, and because social interaction protects against Alzheimer's disease, you must make developing and maintaining a strong network of friends a priority.

You don't need to be overly social, but you do need to communicate regularly face-to-face with someone who cares about you and makes you feel heard.

You can volunteer or join a club or social group, visit a senior center, and get to know your neighbors.

Adjust your eating habits

Alzheimer's disease is sometimes described as "brain diabetes," and there is evidence of a strong link between metabolic disorders and the brain's signal processing systems.

But by adjusting your eating habits, you can help protect your mind by:

Control your weight:

Overweight and obese people in middle age are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, so losing weight can protect your mind.

Cut back on sugar:

Sugary foods and refined carbohydrates such as flour, white rice and pasta can cause a sudden spike in blood sugar, leading to encephalitis.

Mediterranean Diet:

According to Dr. Marshall, eating a Mediterranean diet greatly reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's.

This diet includes fresh vegetables and fruits, grains, olive oil, nuts, legumes and fish, moderate amounts of poultry and eggs, dairy products and red meat.

Omega-3

 fats

:

Healthy fats may help prevent Alzheimer's disease, so it is best to eat salmon, tuna, mackerel, seaweed and sardines.

There is scientific evidence of a strong link between metabolic disorders and the brain's signal processing systems (Getty Images)

Mental stimulation

Those who continue to learn new things and challenge their brains throughout their lives are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Also, activities that involve multiple tasks or require communication, interaction and organization provide the greatest protection, so it is recommended to:

Learn something new:

Study a foreign language, practice playing an instrument, learn to draw or sew.

One of the best ways to pursue a new hobby is to register for a semester, then schedule regular times to practice it.

Increase your skills and knowledge:

If you can play the piano and don't want to learn a new instrument, commit to learning a new piece of music or improving your playing style.

Puzzles and riddles:

Thinking and strategy games provide great mental exercise, and build your ability to form cognitive connections, such as solving crosswords and word and number games such as "Scrabble" or "Sudoku".

Habits change:

Change your habits regularly to create new brain pathways, as if changing the paths you know well into new ones you take.

Sleep well

Good sleep expels toxins from the brain, and if sleep deprivation at night slows your thinking or affects your mood, you may be more likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

So you need to establish a regular sleep schedule, go to bed and get up at the same time.

Reduce stress

Chronic stress may contribute to massive brain damage, shrinking the main memory area and impeding neuronal growth.

You can use simple stress management mechanisms to reduce the harmful effects of stress, such as breathing deep from the stomach when feeling stressed, and practicing meditation or yoga.

Make fun a priority. Make time for fun activities that make you happy, and maintain your sense of humor. Laughter helps your body resist stress.

Chronic stress may contribute to massive brain damage, leading to shrinkage in the main memory area (Getty Images)

Vascular health

What is good for your heart is also good for your mind.

Maintaining cardiovascular health can be very important in reducing the risk of developing various types of dementia.

So you have to control your blood pressure, monitor cholesterol levels and stop smoking.

When you stop smoking, your brain benefits from improved circulation almost immediately.

More women than men

Women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than men.

Researchers believe this higher risk could be linked to reduced fertility and menopause initiation in middle age.

Estrogen protects brain cells from aging, so a significant drop in this hormone during menopause may make you more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease.

Eating foods rich in antioxidants such as fruits, leafy vegetables, and nuts will help protect your mind, and flaxseeds, soybeans, nuts, and fruits such as strawberries, peaches and apricots may help boost estrogen levels naturally.