We all have a little fear of memory loss and forgetting things as we age, don't we? We also wonder if this will happen to our beloved parents and grandparents. We generally call this condition, which causes complete memory loss, dementia. But there is good news. Researchers are constantly finding out that there are things we can do to reduce this risk. Recently, they have told us about two new risk factors that we can control. Let's talk about them today.
Simply put, what is dementia?
Dementia is not a single disease. It is a general term for a group of diseases that impair brain function. You may have heard of Alzheimer's disease. It is the most common type of dementia. This condition causes a gradual loss of memory, thinking, and decision-making skills. This can make it difficult to perform daily tasks on your own. Since there is currently no cure, the best thing we can do is reduce the risk of developing it.
Two newly identified risk factors
A recent study by a team of 27 experts revealed these two new risk factors to the world. They say they affect up to 9% of dementia patients.
1. Bad cholesterol level (High LDL Cholesterol)
We've all heard of "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol." We're talking about the "bad" kind, LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol . Previously, there was no clear evidence of a link between LDL cholesterol and dementia. But a number of recent studies have shown that there is a strong link between elevated LDL cholesterol levels in the blood and the risk of dementia .
How does it happen? Simply put, when this bad cholesterol increases, it can deposit in the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain. This increases the risk of stroke. In addition, this cholesterol can also cause changes in the brain called amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles. These are the brain changes that primarily affect Alzheimer's disease.
Therefore, experts now recommend that people start taking care of their cholesterol levels as early as middle age (around 40-50 years old). If cholesterol levels are high, it is essential to seek medical advice and treatment as soon as possible.
2. Ignoring vision impairments
This is something you might not have thought of. Researchers say there is a "significant" link between untreated vision loss and dementia. Specifically:
- Cataracts
- Diabetic Retinopathy (damage to the retina of the eye due to diabetes)
- Other vision impairments
If these are not treated in time, the risk of dementia increases.
Why is this happening? There could be several reasons for this. One is that a condition like diabetes can affect both the eyes and the brain at the same time. On the other hand, when eyesight deteriorates, people tend to withdraw from social interactions and activities that stimulate the brain, such as reading and solving puzzles. This social isolation and lack of mental stimulation also pave the way for dementia.
Therefore, if you or your parents feel that your eyesight is slightly deteriorating, it is very important to see an ophthalmologist and get it checked out, rather than dismissing it as "just the way it is with age." Perhaps a pair of small glasses or a simple surgery can reduce this risk.
12 other risk factors we can control
In addition to these two new findings, the same research team has previously told us about 12 other factors we can change to reduce our risk of dementia. Let's take a look at what they are and what we can do about them.
| Risk Factor | What can we do? (What We Can Do) |
|---|---|
| Lack of education | Providing every child with a good education. Doing things that stimulate the brain (reading, puzzles, learning something new) in middle age and beyond. |
| High Blood Pressure | Check your blood pressure regularly, especially after the age of 40. If it is high, seek treatment as directed by your doctor. |
| Hearing loss | Avoiding loud noises. If you have hearing loss, talk to your doctor about wearing hearing aids. |
| Smoking | Quitting smoking completely. Seek medical advice if necessary. |
| Obesity | Control body weight from a young age. Maintain a healthy weight. |
| Depression | Take care of your mental health. Seek help from a doctor or psychologist if necessary. |
| Lack of physical activity | Engage in exercise such as walking, running, or swimming at least a few days a week. |
| Diabetes | If you have diabetes, manage it properly. Diet, exercise, and take your medications properly. |
| Social isolation | Spending time with friends and family. Participating in social activities. |
| Excessive drinking | Limit or completely stop drinking alcohol. |
| Head injuries | Wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle or motorbike. Protecting the head. |
| Air pollution | Minimize exposure to vehicle exhaust and factory smoke as much as possible. |
When you look at these things, you can see that they're all related to our lifestyle. That means we have a lot of power to reduce this risk.
Take-Home Message
- Dementia is not a normal part of aging. It is a disease. But there are many things we can do to reduce our risk of developing it.
- The two newly identified risk factors are high LDL (bad) cholesterol and untreated vision impairment.
- Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly after the age of 40. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor and get proper treatment.
- Don't ignore symptoms like decreased vision or blurred vision. See an eye doctor immediately.
- Simple lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, controlling your weight, exercising, eating a healthy diet, and being social can have a big impact on brain health.
- Not only yourself, but also your parents and family elders should be informed about these facts. We can all grow old with a healthy mind.
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