Havana, Feb 18 (Prensa Latina) Practicing physical exercise, healthy lifestyles, reading habits, use of languages and listening to music are some of the actions recommended by a Cuban expert to combat Alzheimer''s disease, Granma daily reported on Monday.

It also suggests dancing, avoiding smoking, alcoholism and drug use, sleeping well, keeping body weight, controlling chronic illnesses and treating depression, added Rodolfo Bosch, a specialist in internal medicine at Havana's University of Medical Sciences.

According to Bosch, physical exercise helps to preserve a better memory in different ways: it favors respiratory and cardiovascular function, increases cerebral blood flow, improves mood and prevents cerebrovascular diseases that cause structural damage to the brain.

Also, he added, it helps control chronic non-transmissible diseases and brain neuroplasticity, which is the ability of neurons to adapt and create new connections to external stimulation.

According to the expert, the different types of physical exercises: aerobics, pilates, Tai Chi and yoga provide benefits, although the duration and intensity must be adjusted to each person's own characteristics.

There are several types of diets, but the Mediterranean diet is recommended: fish, polyunsaturated fatty acids present in olive oil and avocado, fruits and vegetables.

The folic acid and the vitamin B12 are very important, because its deficit in the elderly produces loss of memory and even dementia syndrome. Vitamins A and E have antioxidant properties, he pointed out in his statements to the newspaper.

Bosch pointed out that there are memorization techniques and mnemonic resources that help maintain memory. In this sense, concentration is transcendental, which is why it is recommended not to carry out several activities at the same time, he explained.

The World Health Organization reports that each year 10 million new cases of Alzheimer's on the planet are reported.