Alzheimer’s disease is rapidly increasing, with the Alzheimer’s Association stating that one in three seniors will die with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. In addition to exercise, healthy diet, brain stimulation, and staying socially connected, there might be another risk factor that you are overlooking, radiation exposure. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Denmark found a connection between ionizing radiation and Alzheimer’s disease. Ionizing radiation is the form of radiation you are exposed to when you get a CT scan, mammogram, x-ray, or go through the security scanner at the airport.
Though it is known that high-level exposures of ionizing radiation can damage your cells and DNA, potentially leading to diseases such as cancer, researchers have recently found that even low-level exposure might contribute to Alzheimer’s risk. In the study, mice exposed to chronic low-dose ionizing radiation treatments exhibited changes in their brains similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease. This suggests that exposure to even low-level ionizing radiation, through medical or airport scans, could put you at risk for Alzheimer’s if done frequently enough.
It’s not possible to determine the exact dose level that is safe. However, it is important to note that in the study, mice were exposed to doses more than 1,000 times smaller than what you get from a single CT scan, and this was enough to create Alzheimer’s-like changes in the mice’s brains.
Given that people are traveling and undergoing medical tests involving radiation exposure all the time, here are a few ways you can reduce your exposure to ionizing radiation:
- Opt for the airport pat-down instead of a full body scan: especially if you travel frequently.
- Work with your healthcare providers to limit the amount of medical testing: talk to your doctor and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. The most overdone tests that expose you to radiation include mammograms, stress tests, x-rays, and CT scans.
- Boost your body’s defense through your diet: chlorophyll, sea vegetables, and bee pollen have all been shown to protect your body from the harmful effects of radiation.
Reducing known risk factors is essential in lowering your risk for Alzheimer’s and living a healthy life. Make conscious decisions when it comes to radiation exposure by opting for pat-downs at airports, discussing your medical tests with your healthcare provider, and maintaining a balanced diet. Preventing Alzheimer’s starts with you and the choices you make.
