CogniFit's Science blog: The Risks And Prevention Methods To Dementia

The Risks And Prevention Methods To Dementia

Dementia usually consists of a decline in mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with daily life.This is a simple definition, but anyone that has gone through it or seen someone else suffer from it knows all too well the pain and struggle that is involved. There are several risks that come with the disease as well as some preventable measures you may want to take yourself.

As you begin to look at the risks involved with dementia, you will find that some like age and genetics simply cannot be changed. It is not your fault if it is in your genes or if you hit that certain benchmark for age.

However, researchers and scientists have continued their work to identify everything there is to know about the disease including additional risk factors on brain health and prevention. And what they are finding is that some of the most active areas of research are based around cardiovascular factors, brain training, physical fitness and diet.

Your brain is actually nourished by a rich network of blood vessels in the body. Anything that damages blood vessels in the body can also damage blood vessels in the brain thus depriving your brain cells of vital food and oxygen.

Often times this damage will be present long with changes caused by other types of dementia. The changes can then interact causing a faster decline or worsening your impairments. Proactive steps you can take to protect your brain are similar to those taken with the heart such as not smoking, keeping your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar at adequate levels and maintaining your weight.

People continuously harp on the importance of getting brain and physical exercise in and it is true here as well. Working out is not only important for shedding pounds and maintaining a healthy figure, but it can help lower the risk of some types of dementia as well. There is a great deal of evidence that shows brain exercise can also directly benefit brain cells by increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain.

The final area to keep an eye on, which should be no surprise, is your diet. What you eat can actually have the greatest impact on your brain health and its effect on heart health. Countless studies have proven that heart-healthy eating patterns can protect the brain.

One such diet that has come highly recommended by doctors is the Mediterranean diet. This includes very little red meat and focuses more so on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and shellfish, nuts, olive oil and other healthy fats.

Dementia is no disease to mess around as it has a very significant impact on human life. Understanding the various risks involved and how to properly prevent the onset of the disease can help you try to steer clear in the long-run.