Are you also afraid of forgetting things as you get older? Perhaps this fear is even greater when you see your mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather having this problem. This gradual loss of memory is called dementia. However, a new study has some very good news. That is, a few simple habits in our lifestyle can significantly reduce this risk. Let's talk about this today.
What does this new study say?
This is a very special study because the researchers examined the brains of 586 deceased people after their postmortem examinations. They also collected information about their health habits over a period of about 24 years while they were alive.
Here they saw something amazing. Some people had changes in their brains that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, such as deposits of harmful proteins called beta-amyloid and tau , which damage brain cells, but because their lifestyles were so healthy, they didn't show symptoms. Simply put, the brains of those who had good lifestyles had built resilience to the changes that the disease causes.
That means that if your lifestyle is good, there is a much higher chance that you will not develop symptoms of dementia, even if there are some adverse changes in the brain.
What are the 5 lifestyle habits that protect the brain?
Okay, so let's take a look at the 5 habits this study found can act as a protective shield for your brain. These aren't as hard as you might think.
| Lifestyle Habit | What to do? |
|---|---|
| 1. Avoid smoking | You are not currently a smoker. Smoking damages the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, so it is very important to avoid it. |
| 2. Being active (exercise) | Get at least 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours) of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Anything like brisk walking, running, cycling, or swimming is good. |
| 3. Limit alcohol | Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. |
| 4. A healthy diet | Specifically, following the MIND diet . Simply put, this means increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and fish, while reducing your intake of red meat, sweets, and processed foods. |
| 5. Engaging in brain-intensive work | Keeping the brain active even after you get older. For example, reading a newspaper or a book, writing letters, going to the library, playing games like chess or checkers, and learning something new. |
Dementia is a global problem.
Did you know that, according to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia. About 10 million new cases are added every year. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the world.
Dementia is not a single disease. It is a general term for a group of conditions that cause a gradual loss of memory, thinking ability, and the ability to perform daily tasks. The most common of these is Alzheimer's disease.
The most dangerous thing about these conditions is that there is no cure yet to reverse or completely stop the disease once it has developed. That is why prevention is so valuable.
Doctors' advice
Even doctors are now emphasizing that these lifestyle habits are essential for preventing heart disease and dementia. Sometimes, if a doctor prescribes medication for Alzheimer's disease, he will also advise you to follow these 5 lifestyle habits along with the medication. Because the results obtained when these two go together are much higher.
Therefore, if you have any doubts or fears about your memory or the memory of someone in your family, don't be shy or delay, talk to your doctor. He or she will give you the guidance you need.
Take-Home Message
- Dementia is a serious condition that causes memory loss as we age. However, this risk can be greatly reduced by following a healthy lifestyle.
- The 5 key habits are: not smoking, exercising for 150 minutes a week, limiting alcohol, eating a healthy diet (like the MIND diet), and keeping your brain active.
- These habits protect your brain and increase its ability to withstand even the internal changes caused by the disease.
- If you or someone in your family is having memory problems, talk to your doctor about it right away.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න