Although there is no cure for dementia, studies show that are things you can do that could help diminish your chances of developing the disease. The biggest risk factor is age, and that’s, of course, something none of us can avoid. However, it’s important to be aware of anything that might reduce the risk of developing dementia.
Consider the following tips that include keeping your mind active and being physically active.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Reduce your risk of dementia with a healthy, balanced diet. Eating healthy can not only help to reduce the risk of developing dementia, but it can also reduce the risk of other conditions including type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke, obesity, and heart disease.
If you or a loved one is a senior, consider the benefits of a Personal Support Worker (PSW) from a home healthcare service provider. Visit https://integracare.on.ca/dementia-care/ — a company that has been offering healthcare to seniors at home for almost 30 years. A PSW could help you create delicious and healthy meals every day.
Design a diet that contains:
- At least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
- Eat protein (oily fish, eggs, or meat) at least twice a week
- Eat starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, and bread
- Limit your sugar and salt intake
- Drink at least six glasses of water every day
Be Physically Active
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of developing dementia is to regularly engage in physical activity. It’s good for your circulation, heart, weight, and wellbeing.
Find a way of exercising that works best for you. Don’t put pressure on yourself right away to exercise every single day. Find a workout routine (it could even be something as simple as walking around the block a few times) and build it gradually. Even ten minutes every other day will help you feel better and you’ll gain momentum with every step.
Cut Back on the Alcohol Intake
Drinking too much alcohol is not good for anyone. If you find yourself drinking to the point of excess on a regular basis and it’s affecting your life in a negative way, it might be time to seek help.
It also can increase your risk of developing dementia. At the very most, you should aim to drink no more than 14 units (or drinks) of alcohol each week. If you regularly drink more than this, you’re putting yourself in danger of alcohol-related brain damage.
Exercise Your Mind
Keeping your mind active will help to reduce the risk of dementia. When people challenge themselves mentally, it seems to build up the brain’s ability to cope with the disease.
Find something that challenges you and keep on doing it. You could learn a new language, do a crossword puzzle every day, enroll in a community college course, play cards or board games with your PSW or a loved one, engage in creative writing exercises every morning — it doesn’t really matter what it is, as long as you’re keeping your mind active and alert.
Dementia is a debilitating disease. Take control of your health and practice these tips to reduce your risk.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.