Many people associate forgetfulness with the diagnosis “Alzheimer’s” or “dementia”. But not everyone who is forgetful is also demented. We all forget something from time to time, including young people. This is a necessary mechanism of the brain to protect itself from overstimulation.
Risk factors for developing dementia
However, there are certain life circumstances, behaviors and illnesses that influence the risk of developing dementia.
Examples of risk factors are: High blood pressure, metabolic diseases, increased blood lipid levels, obesity, diabetes, smoking, severe head injuries, lack of exercise, depressive illnesses, few social contacts, lack of sleep and pesticides.
What exactly is dementia? Dementia is a chronic, progressive brain disease associated with a loss of certain mental functions such as orientation,
thinking and learning ability go hand in hand. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. If the doctor suspects that his patient may be developing dementia, neuropsychological dementia tests can help. How this disease can be prevented has not yet been researched, a healthy lifestyle serves as prevention.
Healthy lifestyle for the brain
In principle, what is good for the blood vessels is also good for the brain. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, a normal body weight and not smoking not only reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but are also considered to prevent dementia from developing.
Adequate sleep also promotes brain health. Research from the University of Queensland in Australia shows that lack of sleep affects brain activity. In addition to poor performance and concentration problems, a connection between Alzheimer’s and lack of sleep has been proven. A recent study confirms that sleep rids the brain of toxins that build up during wakefulness. The distance between the brain cells increases during sleep so that toxin proteins can be transported away. It is assumed that diseases such as dementia can be warded off by this transport.
Long-term studies by scientists from Switzerland show that dancing also has a very beneficial effect on brain health.
Dancing stimulates the brain and muscles alike. The room, the person opposite and other dance couples are recorded, signals from the dance partner are processed and rhythms are mapped in new step sequences. The shared experience itself is also extremely helpful. Dancing 15 minutes a day is better for preventing dementia than an hour once a week.
Targeted nutrition can also influence the brain! There is evidence that increased fish consumption, Mediterranean dishes with lots of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and olive oil, but little sausage and meat, and moderate alcohol consumption should protect against dementia. However, it is not yet possible to derive a general nutritional recommendation from this that goes beyond a balanced and healthy diet.
Those: gesundheit.gv.at