5 Powerful Ways to Protect Your Brain and Prevent Dementia
Almost all of us are health conscious. We want to have a fit and healthy body, look good, and feel great all the time. But what about maintaining a healthy brain? Sure, there are lots of ways to do that, with eating healthy and exercising regularly being some of the best ways.
Those are just a few things you can do to be healthy. However, you need to do those things knowing that the number of people suffering from dementia will increase by 40 percent by 2030. Why is this so? It’s because of our current lifestyle.
But then again, there’s no need to worry much because there are lots of ways you can reduce the chances of getting this disease.
Read on to know what they are!
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The first thing you need to do is to be connected with people. After all, no man is an island. We can’t survive on our own. That applies well to the case of dementia as studies have shown that there is a solid connection between having a healthy social life and lowering the risk of dementia. It was also found out that people with larger social networks are 26 percent less likely to get the disease compared to those that have smaller networks.
● Get quality sleep
We all get to sleep, but are you getting enough of it? Sleep at least seven to eight hours every night, and you lower down the risk of suffering from dementia later in life. This is because not having enough sleep means that your nocturnal cleaning system won’t work properly.
This system is responsible for regenerating your brain cells and clearing out “excess baggage” information inside your head. If you don’t get enough sleep, there’s a good chance that your mind will “clog up,” and in the process, result to dementia later in life.
● Exercise regularly
Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is also a sure-fire way to ensure a fit mind. Even mild exercises such as walking daily do a lot of good to your mental and physical health. Numerous studies found out that older adults who exercise regularly have better cognitive function than those that didn’t.
However, young adults should, on the other hand, avoid sports that are prone to head traumas such as football, boxing, and other contact sports, as these increase the chances of developing dementia as they grow older.
● Keep your mind running
Yes, your brain does “rust” if it’s not used often. It’s recommended that you engage in mental exercises that’ll keep you thinking. Perhaps you’d want to try a new hobby, learn new skills, as well as incorporate a daily intellectual activity into your routine.
Do crossword puzzles, read newspapers, or maybe go out fishing. There are lots of things you can do to make the most out of your life, and at the same time, reduce the chances of you developing dementia.
● Eat healthy
One of the biggest reasons why people suffer from dementia later in life is diabetes and obesity. Studies found out that patients suffering from these health conditions have a 50 percent chance of developing dementia as they grow older.
Monitor your weight and be fit as much as possible. Make it a habit to only eat small amounts of meat and instead focus your diet on fruits, whole grains, vegetables, nuts, and fish. Through this, you’re able to reduce the risk of dementia as this diet prevents high blood pressure.
Follow the tips mentioned in this article and no doubt you’ll have a healthier life ahead of you. Not only do these improve your cognitive ability and bring out the best from your mental health, but these will also improve your quality of life.
About the Author:
Jane Byrne is a Project Coordinator at FirstCare Nursing Homes. Jane regularly blogs about both the personal and practical challenges of caring and is always actively working on producing informative content.
