Source :NEWS18 NEWS
Last Updated:May 25, 2025, 13:17 IST
While there is currently no cure or guaranteed way to stop dementia from progressing, certain lifestyle changes can help lower the risk and potentially slow its development.
Regular physical activity helps prevent dementia. (AI generated image)
Every year, millions of elderly people worldwide are diagnosed with dementia. This chronic mental health condition affects nearly 10 million new cases annually, a figure that is set to triple by 2050, as per the World Health Organisation. Experts believe that dementia is caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits and leading a stressful life. A person with dementia will start lacking thinking, memory, and social abilities, eventually hampering their day-to-day life.
Unfortunately, there is no specific way to prevent it from evolving, nor can it be treated. However, it can be reduced by including some lifestyle changes in your routine. In this article, let’s learn about five practices that can help lower the risk of dementia.
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Always Have A Good Night’s Sleep
The most important thing to keep in mind to reduce the risk of dementia is having quality sleep. Lack of sleep can lower your productivity and attention span, leading to shrinkage of the brain. So, try to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. It is also important to note that getting good sleep isn’t just about the number of hours; it is also about the quality of sleep. Deep, peaceful, and REM sleep is important for clearing brain toxins and supporting memory, which can eventually reduce Alzheimer’s risk.
Stay Physically Active
Remember that a sedentary lifestyle is your enemy. It attracts various diseases, and one of them is dementia. Include light to high-intensity exercises in your routine to up your physical game. These exercises include brisk walking, tai chi, water aerobics, dancing, yard work, bicycling, and yoga, among others. Aim to perform light workouts or high-intensity training to slow memory loss.
Eat A Healthy Diet
Another important thing to follow is to maintain a healthy diet. Eating a traditional Mediterranean-type diet, rich in foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, seafood, unsaturated fats such as olive oil, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, and nuts, may help reduce the risk of dementia by almost a quarter. This diet reduces oxidative stress and inflammation. Limiting processed foods, red meat, and sugars is also vital for well-being.
Cholesterol Levels
It is also critical to keep your cholesterol levels in check to reduce dementia. Keeping LDL cholesterol below 70 mg/dL reduces the risk of dementia by 26 per cent and Alzheimer’s disease by 28 per cent. LDL cholesterol plays a role in inflammation and brain blood flow, both of which are important for nervous system function.
Reduce Smoking And Alcohol Consumption
Cigarettes and excessive drinking can impact your health severely. When talking about alzheimer’s or dementia, it increases the risk by 10-fold. So, it is important to reduce alcohol consumption to keep away both short- and long-term health issues.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
- First Published:
May 25, 2025, 13:17 IST
SOURCE : NEWS 18
