[뉴스투데이=최정호 기자] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues for a long time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to prevent dementia. Reduction of interpersonal relationships due to limited outside activities and consequent deepening of depression are factors that can aggravate dementia.
In addition, reduced exercise and increased intake of delivered and instant food are also factors that can aggravate dementia. Kim Jae-ho, a professor at Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital at Hallym University, found out how to prevent dementia in daily life in the era of COVID-19 through a question-and-answer session.
◼︎ Foods that are good for dementia prevention
Foods that are good for dementia prevention include tofu, Brussels sprouts, salad, and salmon. [사진=한림대학교 동탄성심병원]
Salads, salmon, avocados, Brussels sprouts, tofu, and turmeric are among the world-recognized foods that are good for dementia. Even in the case of fruits, it is recommended to consume them daily unless you are diabetic.
First of all, it is good to eat enough vegetables every day. The elderly often eat mostly vegetables or kimchi, which they usually eat, but it may not be possible to eat an adequate amount of vegetables. In the case of vegetables and kimchi, it is difficult to consume sufficient amounts due to high salt content.
Recently, salads are packaged and sold so that you can conveniently consume enough vegetables that are good for your body. In addition, if you eat fruits rich in nutrients that are good for dementia, salmon, avocado, Brussels sprouts, etc. with a salad, you can take care of taste and health at the same time.
Conversely, one of the eating habits to avoid to prevent dementia is to eat sweet foods. The association between diabetes and dementia has been proven through many studies, and it is known that diabetic patients are twice as likely to develop vascular dementia and 1.6 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to non-diabetics.
Due to the increase in depression due to the prolonged COVID-19, the tendency to seek sweet foods has become stronger, so caution is required. If you can’t stand sweet foods, I recommend eating at least one meal instead of rice instead of eating them as a snack.
◼︎ Regular interpersonal activities and aerobic exercise are important
As outside activities are restricted due to COVID-19, opportunities to meet and communicate with people have also decreased. People who are familiar with smart devices continue to engage in interpersonal activities online, but those who are not are increasingly feeling social isolation and depression.
Frequent meeting and conversation with people or engaging in interpersonal activities is a great help in preventing dementia and delaying its worsening. It is known that those who live alone or do not interact with friends are 1.5 times more likely to develop dementia. Therefore, it is important to maintain regular contact with people, and if there are restrictions, phone calls and video calls with family and friends are also helpful.
Exercise also helps prevent dementia, especially aerobic exercise is a big help. Aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, and running is known to be the best exercise to improve cognitive function. Regular exercise promotes blood circulation in the brain and facilitates the connection between nerve cells. Walking 3 times a week or more reduces the risk of cognitive impairment by 33% and the risk of dementia by 31%.
It is helpful to observe the precautionary measures against COVID-19 and to exercise regularly, such as taking a walk. It can be prevented.
Reluctance to visit hospitals is increasing due to COVID-19, and many people with dementia do not even know that their condition is getting worse without receiving regular examinations. Although there are difficulties due to the corona virus, it is important to keep working hard so that meeting with people and physical activities do not stop.