I Don't Want To Know

In today's Toronto Star, Dr. Oz talks about a new brain scan that can spot buildup of plaque, that tangly stuff related to Alzheimer's Disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee has recommended its approval, but wants to ensure that all doctors and radiologists know how to interpret the scans.

Many medical experts are discouraging consumers from taking the early-warning test. Dr. Oz disagrees--he believes that anyone over 50 with a family history of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, should take the test.

I meet all of these criteria, but I have decided not to take the test. Instead, I will follow the everyday health habits that Dr. Oz recommends:

• Eat more salads, fish and fruit. 
• Eat less butter, ice cream and red meat.
• Take a brisk 30-minute walk each day.
• Do not smoke and do not go near people who do.
• Drink three to five small cups of coffee a day.
• Drink in moderation--one drink a day for women and two for men.
• Take a DHA supplement.