Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia
Written by Sara Uffelman
Fact checked by The Brain Blog Team
Lifestyle Changes to Protect Your Brain Health + Reduce Your Risk of Dementia
There is no question that the brain is one of the most vital and powerful organs in our bodies. Our brains act as our bodies’ control center, responsible for for our thoughts, feelings, memories, behaviors, and general perceptions of the world. And yet, I often don't hear any conversation about brain health until it's too late (i.e., dementia and Alzheimer's disease). Why are people more concerned with the physical signs of aging (wrinkles or body weight) than they are with the internal, mental and emotional.. With an organ this powerful, shouldn’t we do everything we can to protect it?
Somebody is diagnosed with dementia every three seconds.
As we age, our bodies become susceptible to disease, illness, and decline. One of the most common symptoms for disease of the brain is dementia, claiming around 50 million people globally. Many actually think Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the same illness. Fact check! Alzheimer’s disease is actually the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or thinking skills. Other symptoms can include changes to behavior, mood and personality that are sometimes severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Today, somebody is diagnosed with dementia every three seconds. Why is this becoming more common? The answer is simple – because we are living longer and the biggest risk factor for dementia is age.
Check out the following Brain Blog on What The Alzheimer's Association and Other Experts Know About Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia.
What can you do to prevent dementia?
This may make you wonder, “is there anything I can do to prevent dementia?” While there is currently no cure for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a recent study suggests people are not doomed to get dementia. We can reduce our chances with lifestyle changes! We can't change the genes we inherit, but changing our lifestyle can help stack the odds in our favor.
- Avoid smoking: Cigarettes increase health risks in all areas of the body, including the brain.
- Exercise regularly: Regular activity can improve quality of life.
- Eat a balanced diet daily:
- Three or more portions of fruits and vegetables. Look for foods high in antioxidants!
- Consume proteins such as fish, beans, chicken, and certain cuts of pork and beef
- Consume foods high in omega-3s such as fatty fish like salmon, walnuts, flaxseed, chia seed, etc.
- Avoid processed foods and meat
- Reduce your consumption of: alcohol, refined grains, solid, saturated, and trans fats, salt, and sugars
- Avoid high blood pressure: High blood pressure can cause heart and kidney disease, and is closely linked to some forms of dementia.
- Maintain a healthy weight: This will reduce your risk of chronic diseases and promote your overall health.
- Take Supplements:
- Did you know that the nutritional value of our food supply declines every year? Enter supplements! In order to combat the loss of nutrition in our food, humans designed supplements to provide our bodies with the nutrition required to stay healthy.
- Not all supplements are created equal so be sure to do your research prior to purchasing. Check out the following Brain Blog articles to help you shop for your brain supplement:
Living a healthy lifestyle takes work, but it is worth it! Keep your brain as sharp as possible, for as long as possible, to live a long and fulfilling life. And for that extra boost of nutrients our bodies crave, add Memory Health® to your daily routine. The Memory Health formula delivers key targeted nutrients directly to your brain to nourish, support and protect it from deteriorating.
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*FDA Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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