Brain Health Tips

How To Prevent Dementia?

Here are some brain health tips that may slow or even prevent dementia.

Research scientists believe that preventing or even delaying dementia is possible. Everyone is looking for a cure, hoping it will come in the in the form of a pill.

Research studies reveal that lifestyle choice play a significant role in protecting the brain. Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce or even prevent the risk of developing dementia. It is now believed what is good for the heart is good for the brain.

So if you are following a “heart healthy” lifestyle… you are also practicing a “brain healthy” lifestyle.

Scientists  believe the key to … decreasing or preventing the symptoms of any type of dementia include:

• Making “heart healthy” food choices
• Staying mentally active by learning or trying new things
• Being physically active
• Remaining social active
• Managing stress.

More research is still needed on this subject of a “brain healthy” lifestyle. Since there is no cure for dementia in the very near future… it certainly cannot hurt to make these lifestyle choices.

Here are some brain health tips:

• Eating a healthy diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in some fish and nuts. Researchers believe Omega -3 fatty acids have a protective effect on the brain . This will decrease the risk for dementia.
• Stress B vitamins. Taken daily help lower the homocysteine levels in the brain. This slows the progression of Alzheimer’s type dementia.
• Vitamin E An antioxidant believed to protect the brain cells against damage. This may slow down the mental deterioration in person’s with Alzheimer’s. It protects against the mental deterioration in person’s with Alzheimer’s. This is the single most important thing you can do for your body and your mind.
• Research studies show that physical exercise decreases the risk of dementia by as much as 50%. Physical activity not only reduces stress, it improves mood and memory. It also increases a person’s energy level. So keep moving, it is good for you!
• Remain social. Get out of the house.  Get to know new people, maintain relationships with neighbors, family and friends. Research studies shows the more connected we are to others in our lives… the better our memory. So play games, or learn a new language, consider traveling to a new place. Learning is the key to brain health.

Doing something new and different that challenges you … is good for your brain health.

• Live life mindfully. Take part in activities that involve all the senses. Activities that allow you to… communicate and interact with others. Activities that requires organization, offers the greatest brain healthy benefit.

Do not be afraid to try some new activities. Even taking a new way home while driving makes you more mindful of your activity. The greater the challenge to you, the more the growth of neurons pathways in your brain occurs.

Challenging activities may delay the onset of dementia. Scientists believe it can actually decrease the effects of this devastating disease.

Incorporate stress management techniques into your everyday life. This is critical to delaying the symptoms of dementia. Research recognizes that stress has a negative impact on the entire body.

Stress actually causes shrinking of the memory area of the brain. Stress causes inflammation of the cells in the body. This interferes with nerve cell growth. Incorporating simple stress management techniques can… reduce the harmful effects to the body and reduce or prevent dementia.

• Getting a good night's sleep important to function at your full capacity. Quality sleep on a regular basis is important for brain health. Lack of sleep interferes with an individual’s ability to think. Problem solving becomes difficult. Information and the ability to recall it become impaired.

Research has shown that deep REM sleep (rapid eye movement) is necessary. It is necessary for formation and retention of memory.  Lack of sleep impacts and slows an individual’s thinking process and affects their mood. This may increase the risk for developing symptoms of dementia.

• Healthy cholesterol level help prevent deposits in the brain, causing vascular dementia.
• Quit smoking if you have not done so. Quitting at any time is always going to decrease the chances of developing dementia. Research studies have shown that… individuals that ha  a two pack a day (or more) habit actually double the risk for developing dementia. This may occur as long as 20 years after quitting.

• Maintain your blood pressure within normal range. This will dramatically decrease the risk for developing vascular dementia.
• Diabetics should work to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range. Fluctuating blood sugars or consistent high blood sugars have now shown this… has a negative impact on the brain.
• Get your hearing checked. There is now a strong correlation between hearing loss and dementia. The worse the hearing loss the greater the chances of developing dementia.

• Get vaccinations.  For many this is a controversial subject. Research studies that individuals that stay current on their vaccinations remain healthier … than those that are not vaccinated. Persons that become sick with the flu have been found to mentally decline faster… after an episode of an illness.