New blood tests and drugs offer hope for slowing Alzheimer’s declineINDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — More than 7 million Americans 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s, and that number could nearly double by 2050. Brain health may be shaped decades earlier by exercise, diet, sleep, and the management of conditions such as blood pressure, diabetes, and hearing loss. For people in their 40s and 50s, doctors recommend monitoring blood pressure. The National Institute on Aging says high blood pressure from the 40s to early 60s is linked to a greater risk of cognitive decline later in life. Some studies now track sleep, heart rate, and activity levels to see how daily habits predict or change cognitive decline.