Dementia is a term for conditions and diseases characterized by a decline in memory, problem-solving, language, and other thinking skills that could affect a person's ability to perform his daily activities. Among the types of dementia, Alzheimer's is the most common.
Growing old increases a person's chances of having dementia, but there are things that you could do to reduce your risk or prevent dementia later in life. Here are 5 ways to help prevent dementia.
Engage in physical activities
One of the best ways to prevent dementia is by regularly doing physical activities. Apart from that, doing physical activities is good for your heart because it helps in heart and blood circulation, maintaining weight, and mental well-being.
Find the exercise that works best for you, start from a small amount of activity first, and gradually increase the time and intensity as your body adapts to it. Try your best to do light workout exercises every after 30 minutes of sitting.
Do not smoke
Smoking could put you at a higher risk of getting dementia. It could also increase your risk of getting a stroke, type 2 diabetes, lung, and other cancers. Other than that, it also harms blood circulation around the body because it affects the blood vessels in the brain, heart, and lungs.
Read also : Smoking Dad's Bad Effects to Unborn Babies
Ways to stop smoking
- Talk to your general practitioner about ways on how to stop smoking.
- Consider using other options on quitting smoking like lozenges or gums.
- Use a specific date as a motivation to stop smoking, like a New Year's resolution, or you may ask someone to help remind you not to smoke every time you have the urge to smoke.
Drink less alcohol
Too much alcohol could cause a person to develop dementia. Aim to drink not more than 14 units of alcohol each week, but if it is not possible, try to at least spread them out over at least three days.
How to cut down on alcohol intake
- Set a limit for yourself and take note of how much alcohol you have drunk.
- Choose low alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks if possible.
- Drink soft drinks instead of alcohol or try to alternate them in between.
- You may have it as a New Year's resolution to stop drinking alcohol altogether.
Eat healthy
Besides preventing dementia, eating healthy could help prevent other conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, obesity, stroke, and other heart diseases.
Read also: Lose Weight Easily with the Low Carb Diet
Regularly exercise your mind
It is important to exercise your mind to prevent dementia. Challenge your mind regularly so that you could build up your brain's activity to cope with it. Many things could help challenge your brain to keep it actively working.
Brain activities to try
- Learn a new language
- Play card or board games
- Play puzzles, quizzes, or do crosswords
- Study a course that you have been dying to learn
- Read books or write stories and articles
