2023-12-27 03:42:41
Older adults are at risk of developing dementia, as its prevalence and incidence increase with age.
Dementia is an advanced neurological condition that affects memory, especially short-term memory. As the disease progresses, it affects other parts of cognitive function including understanding, speech and judgement. It can also affect behavior, and in its later stages it can affect motor functions, such as: balance, walking, and swallowing.
Research has shown that taking steps to improve our health at any age can be particularly important in helping to reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life.
There are many ways to help prevent or delay memory loss, as published on the Medical Express website, as reported by Russia Today, and Dr. Patrick B. Cole, medical director of the Department of Seniors Health at UConn Health, offers some of these methods.
What is good for your heart is good for your mind
One of the biggest effects of delaying memory loss is managing cardiovascular disease and preventing cardiovascular health problems because there is a strong connection between heart health and brain health.
The brain is nourished by one of the richest networks of blood vessels in the body. With each beat, the heart pumps between 20% and 25% of the blood to the head, where the brain cells use at least 20% of the food and oxygen carried by the blood in order to perform their functions normally. As a result, many factors that damage the heart or blood vessels may also lead to brain damage and may increase the risk of dementia.
Physical activity helps prevent many health conditions, and is essential for keeping your brain working properly as well. It can also help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Both are known risk factors for dementia.
Regulating blood pressure
High blood pressure, especially in middle age, has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline. It is important to make sure your blood pressure is checked regularly, and for some patients who take medications to control their blood pressure, talk to your doctor about making changes through lifestyle interventions.
Diabetes prevention and management
Diabetes is a condition that causes blood sugar levels to become too high and is known to affect brain health.
Preventing diabetes is key, but for those who suffer from the disease, your blood sugar level must be kept under control to protect your brain from dementia.
The main goal of diabetes management is to reduce the risk of complications and diseases associated with it.
Some ways to manage diabetes include healthy eating, physical activity, blood sugar monitoring, medications, stress management, foot care, dental hygiene, smoking cessation, blood pressure, and cholesterol control.
Prevent head injuries
It is important to protect adults and children who participate in contact sports from serious head injury or repetitive injuries that may put them at risk for cognitive dysfunction including dementia as they grow older.
Smoking and alcohol abuse
There are many good reasons not to smoke cigarettes, and you can add dementia prevention to the list.
In addition to its association with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, there is evidence that smoking increases the risk of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
Avoiding excessive alcohol intake is another health precaution to prevent memory problems.
hearing loss
There is a bidirectional relationship between hearing loss and dementia. It is known that hearing loss is a risk factor for dementia, and it is also known that those with dementia are at increased risk of hearing-related problems.
If you have hearing loss, improving your hearing through a hearing evaluation and possibly using hearing aids can reduce your risk of dementia.
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