#1 Way to Slash Your Dementia Risk – Even If You Have a Family History

This blog is based on research by Journal of the American Medical Association [Link Here].

Dementia is defined by loss of memory, problems with thinking and reasoning, and an inability to carry on with work and life activities independently. There are several kinds of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.

Currently more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.

World Health Organization

Also, according to World Health Organization, dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death among all diseases and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally. These stats mean that many of us likely know someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s and may even have a family history of cognitive-related conditions.

RELATED: Early Signs and Symptoms of Dementia

The good news is you can lower your risk of dementia, even if you have a family history. With some healthy lifestyle you can definitely slash the risk of dementia.

Healthy lifestyle & cognitive health

There are several factors that influence your risk of cognitive health decline – like environment, lifestyle, risk factor and more. Overall, when it comes to cognitive health, one thing that stands for its protective benefits – is living a healthy lifestyle.

The study by Journal of the American Medical Association found that, “depending on genetic risk, some people with a healthy lifestyle had an almost 300% lower risk of developing dementia than those with an unhealthy lifestyle.”

Adopting a healthy lifestyle for dementia prevention

One of the main things of a healthy lifestyle is moving your body. Regular exercise can protect against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day. Activities like walking few minutes daily and general aerobic exercise (cardio) can slash your dementia risk.

Another important thing in a healthy lifestyle is having a healthy diet. The MIND diet is a fusion of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets that focuses on super-brain-healthy foods. Eating ample whole grains, leafy greens, berries, fish, nuts, beans and vegetables is core to following this eating pattern.

Habits to avoid

Apart from not being physically active or having unhealthy diet, there are a few unhealthy habits that can up your risk for cognitive decline.

• Not getting enough sleep can put a strain on your brain
• Excess booze (alcohol) consumption
• Smoking
• Listening to very loud music
• Overeating or eating junk foods
• Being dehydrated
• Living in polluted environment
• Eating too much sugar and salt
• Prevent head injury

Bottom line

When there is genetics involved in the development of dementia, leading a healthy life style is the #1 way to slash down your risk. We cannot say for certain whether making the above lifestyle changes will protect against dementia when you grow old, but these changes are good for your health and are all part of making healthy choices as you age.