Vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are just two of the conditions that affect cognitive functioning and are listed under dementia. These conditions impact the ability of a person to remember, think and socialize.
Researchers have identified several factors that increase the risk of dementia. While not preventable, you can make certain changes in your lifestyle to reduce your risk.
- Diet
Increased alcohol use, high levels of the bad LDL cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes all increase the risk of dementia. You can reduce the risk by moderating alcohol intake and ensuring your cholesterol is at healthy levels.
- Physical Activity
Vigorous exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia. However, even doing low-level exercise, such as walking or doing chores, can have a positive effect.
- Social Interaction
Keeping social connections throughout our lives also plays an important part in reducing the risk of dementia. Social isolation throughout life, especially early in life, can change brain structure, which leads to an increased risk of dementia.
- Blood Pressure
Most people know that high blood pressure can lead to strokes and other problems. It can also increase the risk of dementia.
- Depression
Anyone suffering from depression has an increased risk of developing dementia. However, the risk is even higher for senior men who are depressed.
- Smoking
If you smoke, you have a higher risk of developing dementia. The sooner you quit, the more you mitigate the increased risk caused by smoking.
- Genetics
Scientists have found Alzheimer’s genes both in risk genes (genes that cause you to be at a higher risk of developing a condition) and in deterministic genes (genes that cause disease), though they believe that less than 1 percent of Alzheimer’s cases are caused by deterministic genes.
- Head Injury
We can’t always prevent head injuries, but we can mitigate them by wearing proper gear when engaging in certain activities. For example, buckling your seat belt and wearing bicycle and motorcycle helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries. You can also add grab bars, nonslip mats and other safety accessories to reduce your risk of falls in your home.
- Stress
Being under stress a lot of the time can increase the risk of dementia. It’s important to create a lifestyle that has as little stress as possible.
How To Adopt a Brain-Healthy Lifestyle To Mitigate the Risk of Dementia
You can minimize the risk of developing dementia by following memory-boosting tips and making sure you are heart- and brain-healthy throughout your life. Even younger people can have high blood pressure and cholesterol. Having regular check-ups even in your 20s can head off many issues and help to reduce your risk of dementia in later years.
Contact Diamondback Healthcare Center to learn more about the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle at our Desert Diamond Memory Pavilion and to discuss placement for a loved one suffering from dementia.