How to reduce the chances of having dementia: effective tips

 Dementia is a syndrome that develops as a result of various diseases and in which there is a degradation of memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform daily activities.

According to WHO, dementia affects more than 10 million people every year and it is not a normal aging process (as many believe).

What can I do now to avoid dementia in my old age?

Dementia is not an automatic component of old age. This is not the norm!

Dementia develops gradually and has 3 stages:

Initial:

general forgetfulness,

losing track of time,

disorientation in a familiar area.

Middle stage:

forgetfulness about recent events and people's names,

disorientation at home,

behavioral difficulties (for example, aimless walking, asking the same questions in circles, etc.).

Late stage:

loss of orientation in time and space,

problems with recognizing relatives and friends,

behavioral changes that may escalate and include aggression.

Research identifies 12 risk factors for developing dementia, and some of them you can influence right now. Check them out and get to work.

12 factors that contribute to the development of dementia in old age

Low physical activity.

Smoking.

Excessive alcohol consumption.

Air pollution (this is debatable, but evidence suggests that living within 50 meters of a major road can increase the risk of dementia by 7%, although a direct link has not been proven)

Head injuries.

Low level of social activity: social interaction improves the cognitive reserve of the brain.

Low level of education.

Being overweight: People with a body mass index above 30 have an increased risk of developing dementia in old age.

Increased blood pressure.

Type 2 diabetes.

Ignoring depression

Hearing impairment (using a hearing aid in case of hearing impairment reduces the risk of developing dementia).

Scientists believe that these factors are responsible for 35% of the risk. That is, by working with each of them, you can reduce the risk of dementia in the future by a third. The other 65% is not yet under human control, but scientists are working.