Tips To Prevent Dementia And Alzheimer's Disease
Dementia refers to a set of symptoms seen in brain disorders. The most common symptom linked to dementia is impaired cognitive function. This means individuals dealing with dementia will be unable to recall and process information and memories in the same way. There are often issues with long and short-term memory as well as reasoning abilities. This is especially true in the case of Alzheimer’s disease, which is a form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease and over time, patients will lose more of their memories and other cognitive abilities. There is currently no cure and over 5 million individuals are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in the United States alone.
Caring for someone with dementia at home can be fairly difficult. This is why many individuals need to get Alzheimer’s help. When dealing with a patient with Alzheimer’s disease, due to the condition’s progressive nature, loved ones often look for nursing homes for Alzheimer patients. Since this is a devastating condition to deal with, the best cure for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is to prevent them from occurring.
Stay Social
Social events are vital for individuals who are trying to keep their brain functioning at optimum levels and prevent Alzheimer’s disease from setting in. Socializing with other individuals helps the brain absorb new information. This is sometimes even just new names and faces. It is fairly easy to remain social. Individuals should meet with their friends regularly. This can be at a coffee shop for lunch or a restaurant for dinner. They may even want to go for a walk outside. Talking on the phone to family members also helps. Individuals should even consider interacting with their neighbors more and learning even simple details about them. Regularly going to the library or community center is also very beneficial for staying social.
Get the full details on how exercise can prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia next.
Exercise Regularly
Everyone needs to exercise regularly. This is because physical activity helps keep individuals physically healthy. Insufficient exercise makes it harder for individuals to maintain a healthy weight, which increases the risk of many serious health issues, including heart disease and diabetes. However, exercise also impacts cognitive function because many types of exercise will challenge an individual’s body and brain at the same time.
Playing sports such as soccer force individuals to think about where they are going to kick the ball and how they are going to score on the opponent’s net. They have to remember choreography for dance classes. Yoga classes require individuals to remember the names of different poses. Of course, the best type of exercise for keeping the brain working at optimum levels and preventing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is the type that individuals are going to engage in regularly. Unenjoyable exercises will not last long, even if they are effective ones.
Discover what dietary choices help with the prevention of Alzheimer's disease next.
Follow A Healthy And Balanced Diet
Individuals can get many benefits from following a healthy and balanced diet. Physical health benefits, of course, include maintaining a healthy weight, increasing energy, and preventing serious health conditions such as heart disease. What many individuals may not realize, however, is that the food they consume has a significant impact on their brain health. Individuals who want to prevent the potential development of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia should pay close attention to their diet.
Specifically, they should consume more fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have a strong positive influence on cognitive function, which helps slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Sources of omega-3s include tuna, eggs, milk, salmon, as well as whole grain pasta and bread. Fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens such as spinach and kale as well as berries, have been proven to greatly benefit the health of the brain. They are essential to keep the brain in the best possible shape.
Continue reading to uncover information on what kinds of tea can help prevent dementia next.
Drink Tea
Recent research has shown that certain teas can help individuals keep their brain healthy and prevent Alzheimer’s disease from developing. Documented evidence shows that this effect is strongest in oolong, white, and green teas. This is, in part, because of the plant compounds that they contain. Green tea is the highest source of one of these compounds, which is a type of catechin known as EGCG. Oolong teas also contain this compound, but in fewer quantities. Of course, oolong, green, and white teas also contain lots of antioxidants, which also benefit the brain. Individuals who want to prevent dementia should consider drinking a cup or two of these teas a day for the cognitive benefits.
Get information on how to use sleep to prevent Alzheimer's disease next.
Get Sufficient Sleep
Research has shown that there is a connection between disrupted and poor sleep and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This is because poor sleep increases the amount of beta-amyloid in the brain, which is a protein that clogs the brain. Beta-amyloid compromises the type of sleep that is required for individuals to form long-term memories. Fatigue during the day reduces an individual’s ability to perform tasks, including remembering to do them. It takes away motivation. This is exactly why individuals need to get enough good quality sleep at night if they want to stay healthy and prevent dementia.
Adults need at least eight hours of sleep every night. They should go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to help with this. Keeping the bedroom cool and free of distractions is also helpful for improving sleep quality. Individuals who continue to have issues sleeping should be screened for underlying health conditions and sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.
Discover the full details on how to relieve stress and prevent dementia next.
Engage In Stress Relief Techniques
Chronic stress has serious negative effects on the brain. This includes compromising the growth of new nerve cells. Persistently high stress also makes vital memory processing centers in the brain smaller, which increases the risk of individuals developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This is precisely why individuals must make time to practice stress relief. They need to reduce their stress and anxiety to prevent damage to their brain.
Individuals should start by breathing deeply when they feel stressed. Doing this helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system that handles relaxation. Going for walks every day, meditating, doing yoga, and even trying aromatherapy can all help individuals calm down and keep their stress levels low.
Cholesterol has a strong impact on an individual's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Get the full details on this next.
Manage Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
Evidence has uncovered a link between cholesterol and an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Specifically, individuals with high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is the unhealthy type, are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. When an individual has high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, their body will have plaque buildup in their arteries. This forces the body to produce more protein in the brain, causing a buildup there. It also means that the body is not able to break down amyloid proteins the way it is supposed to do, compromising the health of the brain. Individuals should improve their cholesterol by making smart dietary choices, such as reducing their consumption of saturated fats. They should also increase their intake of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
Uncover information on why quitting smoking is a vital component of preventing Alzheimer's disease next.
Quit Smoking
Everyone knows that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. It also compromises cardiovascular and respiratory health in other ways. However, many individuals do not realize that smoking has also been shown to cause a severe increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. One particular study found evidence that heavy smoking doubled an individual’s risk of developing dementia later in their life. Over 25 percent of study participants who smoked multiple packs of cigarettes a day went on to be diagnosed with dementia later. Approximately two-thirds of these participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This is why individuals must quit smoking.
