There are simple changes you can make that will reduce your risk for developing dementia.
The brain is an organ that requires proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and proper stimulation.
Do you ever wonder what you can do to improve your brain health and reduce your risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease or any other type of dementia? I think it’s a common question that we all ask, especially once we reach the age of 50.
It is important to positively stress your mind by learning new activities, engaging in active conversations, learning new things such as hobbies and staying socially active.
So what exactly can we do to reduce our chances of developing dementia? Well, there are many things that can be done to reduce your risk; however, unfortunately, there are no guarantees that it will actually protect you from developing the disease. Despite no guarantees, we should all strive to reduce our chances of developing dementia. What we do know is that with cognitive stimulation and active brain engagement we can delay onset of symptoms. It is important to positively stress your mind by learning new activities, engaging in active conversations, learning new things such as hobbies and staying socially active. Additionally, we should all strive to increase our aerobic activity at least 3 to 5 times per week. It is recommended that you do things such as brisk walking and other types of activities that increase your heart rate for 30 minutes at a time. Be sure that you have discussed engaging in aerobic activity with your healthcare provider before beginning any type of exercise program. We must also be aware of our nutritional status. It is important to reduce the intake of carbohydrates and sugars and to limit your fat intake. A Mediterranean diet tends to be recognized as both a heart healthy and brain healthy type of diet. Finally, do not deny yourself adequate amounts of sleep per night. Regardless of your age, it is recommended to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep nightly. It is best to maintain a natural circadian rhythm sleep pattern meaning sleeping at night and remaining awake during the day. Too often people take naps during the day and as a result, they are not tired at night causing them to stay up into the early hours of the morning. This results in poor cognitive reserve and ultimately can put you at increased risk of developing cognitive difficulties.
Not only is it never too late to make a healthy change, but it’s never too early to begin good habits either!