First there was the news about President Ronald Reagan. Then came the announcement about Charl-ton Heston. Now my father, at age 77, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Thank God we have a large, extended network of family and friends to help with his care, and because the disease hasn’t advanced far yet, we’re managing well for now. However, since his diagnosis I’ve read that the children of Alzheimer’s patients are at greater risk themselves for this disease. I’ve also heard there are a variety of activities people can do daily to either prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. What can you tell me about this? I’m 53 and worried about my future, too.

Dad’s Darling

Dear Darling, I’ve got some good news and bad news. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Unfortunately, with one first-degree relative (brother, sister, father, mother) who is a victim of the disease, your risk has doubled. And as we age, our risk increases as well. Only 2 to 4 percent of the general population at age 65 may suffer from Alzheimer’s, but between 40 and 50 percent of the general population at age 85 may have it, according to the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago. Now, the good news. There are a number of things that people can do to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. Let’s take a look.

Let’s Dance

Believe it or not, dancing is one of many activities that may help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. What’s more, it’s good for your heart and soul mate, too.

A new study recently published in the New Eng-land Journal of Medicine found that Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia may be slowed or minimized by mentally stimulating activities, such as crossword puzzles and reading. But researchers 1lso looked at forms of physical exercise, too, and found that dancing is the ideal mental and physical activity because, unlike walking, in which we often slip into automatic pilot, dancing involves both mental and physical effort.

Mental Exercises

Now I’m not suggesting anything exhaustive like taking up nuclear physics or learning how to program a VCR, but according to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, they suggest some of the following:

• Chess

• Playing a musical instrument

• Puzzles

Done regularly, they exercise and even strengthen the brain.

Keep Learning

Studies have also looked at a person’s education level and found that the more of it a person has, the better the brain does as we age. That’s not to suggest it’s easy, at age 70 or 75 to begin playing the violin, for example. As we age our ability to learn slows, just as our ability to move slows, but the fact remains that we’re never too old to learn.

Savvy Tips: Don’t forget your greens and grains. There may be a link between leafy vegetables and other foods rich in vitamin E and battling back Alzheimer’s. So eat healthy, hit the dance floor, and take a good mystery to bed with you when you get home.

Savvy Resources

• The Alzheimer’s Association: Offers information and referrals to support groups. Visit www.a1z. org or call 1-800-272-3900.

• The Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center: Offers information and free publications. Visit wwwalzheimers.org/adear or call 1-800-438-4380.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit www.sawysenior.org.