[이데일리 이순용 기자] The difficulty in preventing dementia is increasing as the COVID-19 outbreak has been calming down and has recently returned to a sharp rise again. In particular, the reduction of interpersonal relationships due to limited outside activities and the consequent deepening of depression can exacerbate dementia. In addition, reduced exercise and increased intake of take-out and instant food are also factors that can aggravate dementia. Learn how to prevent dementia in daily life in the era of Corona with the help of Professor Jae-Ho Kim, Department of Neurology, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital.
◇ What are the best foods to prevent dementia?
Foods that are recognized worldwide for dementia prevention include salad, salmon, avocado, Brussels sprouts, tofu, and turmeric. Even in the case of fruit, it is recommended to consume it 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 their high salt content.
Professor Kim Jae-ho said, “Recently, salads are packaged and sold so that you can conveniently eat enough vegetables that are good for your body. You can take care of taste and health together.”
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.
Professor Kim said, “The tendency to seek sweet foods has become stronger due to the increase in depression caused by the prolonged corona virus, and caution is required.” .
◇ 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 people who live alone or without 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 of great help. Aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, and running is known to be the best exercise for improving cognitive function. Regular exercise promotes blood circulation in the brain and facilitates the connection between nerve cells. If you consistently walk three or more times a week, you lower your risk of cognitive impairment by 33% and your risk of dementia by 31%. It is helpful to observe the corona prevention rules and to exercise regularly, such as taking a walk, and if you have difficulty exercising outdoors, create an environment where you can exercise indoors and engage in physical activity to protect the cranial nerves and prevent cognitive decline. can
Professor Kim Jae-ho said, “The reluctance to visit hospitals is growing due to Corona, and many people with dementia do not even know that their condition is getting worse without receiving regular examinations. It is important to work hard.”
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