ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ---------BLAME GRANDPA?

As the number of alzheimer's victims in the UK approaches one million and the number in the United States exceeds five million, the reasons for dementia and alzheimer's disease are increasingly being asked.
It has been fashionable  to blame the passive watching of television as one of the reasons, but the truth is that it isn't that simple.
From statistical evidence there is no doubt that those who live an active lifestyle have a slightly better change of not suffering from memory loss and dementia. The reasons are fairly straight forward in that good health is as beneficial to the brain as it is to the the heart. However, in the case of dementia, physical exercise through walking, sport or gym is not enough. The brain must also be stretched and exercised through reading,studying,and social involvements. In fact it has been suggested that even playing computer games can be beneficial to memory;  although it has also been said that some of the violent and anti social games are leading to negative behaviour amongst young people.
However, research also shows that heredity plays a part as well in mental health. So check out Grandpa's lifestyle, as well as doing the right thing in respect of your mind and body, if you have dementia it may not be entirely your fault!

Spring continues here in Paarl and although it is cooler, we are back to sunshine again after several days of torrential rain. Bobby the parrot continues to entertain, although he is not speaking many words. In the evening we bring him into the sitting room and he watches television with us for an hour or so. He and his chum Sandy both love the classic music channel and Bobby particularly loves bright colours, especially red and he does a lot of whistling and hooting when that colour is shown.
Boysie has given up on the swimming now and just carries his ball about with him rather sadly.Julian says that we have an owl in the avocado tree, but despite watching I havn't seen him.
My memory is no worse and the new book continues to grow daily by about 1000 words.
Keep taking the tablets.
David Barnato.
Paarl. South Africa.