Research into dementia is progressing daily and although there is no concrete evidence on how to prevent dementia, there is enough evidence to show that living a healthy lifestyle and making better choices for your health can reduce the risk of developing dementia.
Dementia Risk Factors
Some dementia risk factors simply cannot be eliminated and are out of our control - these are:
- Age. Dementia is more likely to affect the elderly, although this is not an inevitable part of ageing and there have been cases of dementia in people as young as 33.
- Genetics. Genes alone are involved in certain more unusual types of dementia; but a more common factor is a combination of genetics and lifestyle choices such as smoking and a lack of exercise.
Other risk factors which are equally important but can be modified are:
lack of exercise
loneliness
depression
hearing loss
To prevent the onset of dementia by 30%, you may wish to make changes to your current lifestyle. Ways to keep your body, and therefore your mind healthy are:
eating a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of foods which nourish the brain
exercising regularly and are maintaining a healthy weight
not smoking, and keeping alcohol to a minimum
keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level and eliminating unnecessary stress
leading a social lifestyle - read about the benefits of companionship for the elderly
developing your brain by learning new things like a language, or a new hobby
By keeping active, healthy, and taking control over your stress levels you can reduce the risk of developing dementia by 30%. If you are concerned you or your relative may have symptoms of dementia, visit your GP. If you or your loved one have dementia, there are charities and companies which can help you live an independent life - click here to read about support for dementia. This includes home care, domiciliary care and live in care services. Home carers and agencies near you can also assist with respite care.
If you would like to talk to us about live-in care for yourself or your loved one, contact our friendly specialist live-in care advisors on 01264 319399 or email us on hello@access-care.co.uk