According to the World Health Organization“Currently, more than 55 million people are living with dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases each year.” Dementia, described by the WHO as “a syndrome in which there is a decline in cognitive function beyond what would be expected from the usual consequences of biological aging” Memory loss, slurred speech, repetition of questions, lack of empathy, Delay in completing routine tasks are common symptoms of dementia, and while there is no cure, there are lifestyle options to help prevent it. Eat This, Not That Health spoke with experts who share the causes of the disorder and the risk factors you can change to reduce your chance of getting the syndrome. Read on and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these yesUre signs that you have already had COVID.
Jennifer PrescottRN, MSN, CDP and founder of Blue Water Home Care and Hospice Share, “Dementia is a common term that describes a group of symptoms that affect memory, decision-making, and reasoning. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which according to 2022 Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures Report an estimated 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older to have Alzheimer’s dementia. Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, early diagnosis and treatment are important as there are medications that can improve quality of life and slow the progression of symptoms in some cases. Once diagnosed, families can work with healthcare providers to develop a plan of care and a map of how they want to live the rest of their lives safely and with their wishes in mind.”
Cole Smith, corporate director of dementia care at Senior Living at Brightview explains: “Dementia affects overall health in many ways, whether it’s a change in appetite, lack of sleep, problems with balance, walking or standing, or of course memory loss and confusion. Once a person is diagnosed with dementia, your life will change. change, and it’s vital to make sure they are engaged mentally, physically and socially and see their doctors regularly to stay on top of this condition.
Prescott says: “Some lifestyle choices can increase your risk of developing dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. More studies are being done to see a direct correlation between habits and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease.
These risk factors/habits may include:
- Advanced age
- Family history of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Race/Ethnicity: The CDC reports that older African Americans are twice as likely to have dementia as Caucasians. Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely to have dementia than Caucasians.
- Inactivity or lack of exercise.
- Lack of brain stimulation.
- Of smoking
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure can increase the risk of some types of dementia. More research is needed to see if lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of dementia.
- High cholesterol – can increase the risk of dementia if left untreated
- traumatic brain injury”
quinn kennedy, PhD, a research psychologist specializing in cognitive aging with QK Consulting shares, “Unfortunately, age is biggest risk factor for dementia. For example, 5% of people ages 65 to 74 have dementia compared to 33% of people ages 85 and older.”
Chaye McIntosh, Clinical Director, pick point He says, “Stress, depression and dementia are related. Whether depression leads to dementia or vice versa is unknown. But on the safe side, let’s keep our stress levels low so that the brain can be cognitively active for longer.”
McIntosh shares, “Physically active people are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease compared to people with a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, physical activity also reduces the chances of vascular diseases. Make sure you find adequate exercise and burn off those extra calories to prevent dementia.”
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests: “Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving. Every week, adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and 2 days of muscle-strengthening activity, according to the current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.”
McIntosh states, “The Mediterranean diet, fruit consumption, a diet rich in antioxidants, and consumption of fish or fish oil have been shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of dementia.”
heather newgen
Heather Newgen has two decades of experience reporting and writing on health, fitness, entertainment and travel. Heather currently works as a freelancer for various publications. read more
