According to Dawson, don’t forget to put our genetic analysis on the table. He says it’s incredibly important to identify your genetic advantages, disadvantages and disadvantages when creating a bird’s eye view of your health and well-being – and when it comes to longevity, he recommends testing for the APOE4 gene, which is linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Because.
“My mom has ApoE4, so we’re going to focus on something different for her if she doesn’t have it [gene]. We’re really going to focus on things that can reduce her risk of dementia, “he said.” Many people are reluctant to have a genetic test because they’re afraid that what they can find is pointless. It’s a perfectly valid concern, but Dawson is convinced that Genes don’t have to be your destiny: “We’ve found something we can do now … we know we can really delay or prevent this start,” he said.
For example, he mentions lifestyle factors that can help keep your brain sharp over time, such as quality sleep, exercise, and nutrition. (You can read more about how to increase the longevity of your brain here.) “It’s something we all know, but it’s much more important to optimize it for brain health,” Dawson added.