{"id":1244,"date":"2019-04-29T04:24:53","date_gmt":"2019-04-29T04:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/?p=787"},"modified":"2019-04-29T04:24:53","modified_gmt":"2019-04-29T04:24:53","slug":"how-to-help-keep-dementia-at-bay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/2019\/04\/29\/how-to-help-keep-dementia-at-bay\/","title":{"rendered":"How to help keep Dementia at bay"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Dementia<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dementia is a devastating condition<\/strong> that affects one in ten people over 65.\u00a0 R<\/strong>esearch suggests there are proactive steps<\/strong> you can take help keep dementia at bay and to reduce your risk.[1]<\/p>\n

According to The Economic Cost of Dementia in Australia<\/em> report,<\/a> an estimated 413,000 Australians<\/strong> are currently living with dementia.[2] By age 85, one in four<\/strong> individuals will develop the condition, and by age 95, that number rises to one in two<\/strong>.[3]<\/p>\n

While aging is the biggest risk factor<\/strong>, dementia is not an inevitable part of getting older<\/strong>. In other words, taking care of your brain health<\/strong> can significantly lower your chances of cognitive decline.\u00a0 The team at Trusted Aged Care<\/a> explore ways you can help your brain health.<\/p>\n

Understanding Dementia: A Multifaceted Condition<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dementia is not a single disease<\/strong> but an umbrella term<\/strong> for a range of conditions that cause loss of cognitive function<\/strong> as we age. It affects memory, thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to perform daily activities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Dr. Maree Farrow, a cognitive neuroscientist<\/strong> from the University of Tasmania\u2019s Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre<\/strong>, outlines five key strategies<\/strong> to help lower dementia risk.[4]<\/p>\n

1. Keep Your Brain Mentally Active \ud83e\udde0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Engaging in mentally stimulating activities<\/strong> strengthens neural connections<\/strong> and helps protect against cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

\u2714\ufe0f Lifelong learning<\/strong> \u2013 Take up a new hobby, learn a language, or play a musical instrument.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Brain games<\/strong> \u2013 Try crosswords, Sudoku, chess, or puzzles<\/strong> to keep your mind sharp.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Creative tasks<\/strong> \u2013 Activities like woodworking, embroidery, painting, or writing<\/strong> can help maintain cognitive function.<\/p>\n

Dr. Farrow emphasizes that learning something new<\/strong> is more beneficial than simply repeating familiar tasks.<\/p>\n

2. Stay Physically Active \ud83c\udfc3\u200d\u2642\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Regular exercise<\/strong> helps the brain by boosting blood flow and oxygen levels<\/strong>, therefore promoting new cell growth<\/strong>, and reducing inflammation.<\/p>\n

\u2714\ufe0f Low-impact exercises<\/strong> \u2013 Walking, swimming, and yoga can improve brain health.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Strength training<\/strong> \u2013 Light weightlifting or resistance bands help maintain muscle and cognitive function.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Group activities<\/strong> \u2013 Join an exercise class, such as bowls, hiking, or aqua aerobics<\/strong>, to combine physical and social engagement.<\/p>\n

Research shows that staying active<\/strong> releases brain-boosting chemicals<\/strong> that support neuron growth and connectivity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

3. Maintain a Brain-Healthy Diet \ud83e\udd57<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What you eat directly impacts brain health<\/strong>. Above all, antioxidant-rich foods can protect brain cells from damage<\/strong> and support cognitive function<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2714\ufe0f Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables<\/strong> \u2013 Leafy greens, berries, and nuts contain essential nutrients.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Include healthy fats<\/strong> \u2013 Omega-3-rich foods like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds support brain health.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Limit processed foods<\/strong> \u2013 Reduce sugar and trans fats, which can contribute to inflammation and cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

A Mediterranean-style diet<\/strong>, rich in healthy fats, lean proteins, and whole grains<\/strong>, has been linked to a lower risk of dementia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

4. Stay Socially Connected \ud83e\udd1d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Maintaining strong social ties<\/strong> is crucial for brain health. Also, In addition, social engagement stimulates cognitive processes<\/strong>, helps with problem-solving<\/strong>, and reduces stress and depression<\/strong>, which are linked to dementia.<\/p>\n

\u2714\ufe0f Join a community group<\/strong> \u2013 Volunteer, take a class, or join a local club.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Keep in touch with loved ones<\/strong> \u2013 Regular conversations help keep the brain engaged.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Engage in meaningful discussions<\/strong> \u2013 Understanding body language, facial expressions, and emotions activates multiple areas of the brain<\/strong>, keeping it active.<\/p>\n

Dr. Farrow emphasizes that having a strong network of friends and family<\/strong> keeps the brain healthy and enhances emotional well-being<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

5. Monitor Key Health Markers & Stay on Top of Medical Checkups \ud83e\ude7a<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Your overall physical health<\/strong> plays a major role in reducing dementia risk. Heart health and brain health are closely linked<\/strong>\u2014therefore, unhealthy blood vessels can lead to reduced oxygen flow, damaging brain cells.<\/p>\n

\u2714\ufe0f Monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels<\/strong> \u2013 Keeping these numbers in check reduces the risk of vascular dementia.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Schedule regular health checkups<\/strong> \u2013 Your doctor can help detect early signs of cognitive decline<\/strong> and offer preventive strategies.
\n\u2714\ufe0f Manage chronic conditions<\/strong> \u2013 Conditions like diabetes and hypertension<\/strong> can increase dementia risk, making regular medical care essential.<\/p>\n

By proactively managing your health<\/strong>, you can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline in later life.<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts: Small Changes, Big Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dementia does not have to be inevitable<\/strong>. By adopting healthy habits<\/strong> such as staying mentally, physically, and socially active<\/strong>, eating a nutritious diet<\/strong>, and keeping health markers in check<\/strong>, you can strengthen your brain health<\/strong> and reduce your dementia risk.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca1 Prevention starts today!<\/strong> Take action now to protect your cognitive function<\/strong> and enjoy a healthier future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

5 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Dementia Dementia is a devastating condition that affects one in ten people over 65.\u00a0 Research suggests there are proactive steps you can take help keep dementia at bay and to reduce your risk.[1] According to The Economic Cost of Dementia in Australia report, an estimated 413,000 Australians are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,6],"tags":[21,62,57,63,73,74],"class_list":["post-1244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aged-care","category-health","tag-aged-care","tag-dementia","tag-elderly","tag-health","tag-healthy-diet","tag-stay-socially-connected"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}