Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms associated with a decline in cognitive function that interferes with daily activities. There are many symptoms that make up a diagnosis of dementia.
Memory loss is often one of the earliest and most noticeable symptoms of dementia. People with dementia may struggle to remember recent events, names, or important details. They may also repeat themselves or ask the same questions repeatedly.
Individuals with dementia may have trouble finding the right words, following a conversation, or expressing themselves clearly. They may also have difficulty understanding others or following instructions.
Dementia can cause difficulty with making decisions, solving problems, or understanding cause and effect. People with dementia may exhibit poor judgment in social situations or when faced with complex tasks.
Some individuals with dementia may have trouble interpreting visual information, such as judging distances or identifying objects. This can lead to problems with spatial awareness and navigation.
Dementia can affect a person’s emotions and behavior. They may experience mood swings, become agitated or anxious, or exhibit changes in personality. They may also withdraw from social activities or demonstrate socially inappropriate behaviors.
Individuals with dementia may lose interest in activities they used to enjoy or have difficulty starting and completing tasks. They may also have trouble organizing and planning daily activities.
While memory issues are certainly the predominant symptom of dementia, by itself it is not sufficient to make a diagnosis of dementia. Memory issues are common in the elderly and may indicate mild cognitive impairment. People with mild cognitive impairment have an increased risk of progressing to dementia, but it is not sufficient in and of itself to make a diagnosis of dementia.
In order to receive a diagnosis of dementia, a person typically needs to exhibit several of the symptoms associated with cognitive decline and impairment. The presence of symptoms such as impaired communication, reasoning, judgment, visual perception, changes in mood, and loss of initiative can all contribute to a diagnosis of dementia. A comprehensive assessment by a healthcare provider may include a review of the individual’s medical history, physical examination, cognitive testing, and in some cases imaging studies such as MRI, to rule out other conditions that could be causing similar symptoms. The diagnosis of dementia is usually made based on a pattern of cognitive deficits that represent a significant decline from the individual’s previous level of functioning.
What things can raise one’s risk of developing dementia? I am going to delve into these issues now.
The risk of dementia increases with age. The risk doubles every 5 years after the age of 65. About 1/3 of people 85 and over show signs of the disease. Your genes are responsible for some of this risk, but so do things like poor diet, lack of exercise, poor social engagement, and other health related issues. Just remember that dementia is not a normal part of aging.
Genetics play a significant role in developing dementia. Having a first degree relative develop dementia raises your risk but does not mean that you will get dementia. If you have a genetic risk for dementia and are considering genetic testing, check with your doctor about the pros and cons of testing. In most cases physicians do not recommend these tests. It can cause significant stress in an individual, does not mean that you are destined to develop dementia, and there are currently no effective treatments for dementia.
Cardiovascular issues play a major role in developing different types of dementia. Your blood vessels carry oxygen and nutrients to your brain. With vascular issues, the arteries are damaged, which can make it harder for blood to flow smoothly to your brain, thus restricting the supply of oxygen and nutrients. Over time, this lack of nourishment and oxygen can harm your brain cells and increase the risk of developing memory problems and other issues related to dementia. So, taking care of your heart and blood vessels by eating healthy foods, staying active, and managing conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can help keep the blood flowing smoothly to your brain and reduce the risk of developing dementia.
Lifestyle plays a huge role in our risk of developing dementia. For example, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, eating unhealthy foods, and not getting enough exercise are all lifestyle choices that can be harmful to our health. When we make these unhealthy choices, it can affect our brain just like it affects the rest of our body. Smoking and excessive drinking can damage our brain cells and make it harder for them to work properly.
Poor eating habits can contribute to dementia in several ways. Our brains require a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to stay healthy and function properly. If we don’t eat enough of these nutrients, our brain cells may not be able to work efficiently, leading to cognitive decline over time.
Unhealthy eating habits, such as consuming high amounts of saturated fats, sugar and processed foods, can contribute to conditions like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These conditions can impair blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of vascular dementia, a type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.
Poor diet choices can contribute to chronic inflammation in the body, including the brain. Inflammation is thought to play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, potentially accelerating cognitive decline.
Obesity is associated with an increased risk of dementia. Poor eating habits that lead to weight gain can contribute to insulin resistance, inflammation and other metabolic changes that negatively impact brain health.
By making healthier food choices and prioritizing a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, we can support our brain health and reduce the risk or cognitive decline and dementia in the long run.
Regular exercise has been shown to have numerous benefits for overall brain health and may help reduce the risk of developing dementia.
Regular exercise helps improve heart health and circulation, which in turn can benefit the brain by increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery. This can help maintain the health of brain cells and reduce the risk of conditions that can contribute to dementia, such as stroke.
Exercise has anti-inflammatory effects on the body, which can help reduce chronic inflammation that has been linked to cognitive decline and dementia. By lowering inflammation levels, exercise may help protect the brain from damage.
Physical activity has been shown to stimulate the growth of new neurons and synapses in the brain, a process known as neuroplasticity. This can help improve cognitive function, memory, and learning abilities, as well as potentially enhance the brain’s ability to adapt to new challenges and changes.
Exercise has been shown to have positive effects on mental health by reducing stress and anxiety levels. Chronic stress and anxiety have been linked to cognitive decline and may increase the risk of developing dementia, so managing these factors through exercise can be beneficial for brain health.
Exercise can help lower several risk factors for dementia, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. By addressing these risk factors through regular physical activity, individuals may reduce their overall risk of developing dementia later in life.
Exercise can also help improve sleep. Poor sleep habits can contribute to dementia in several ways. When we don’t get enough quality sleep or experience disruptions in our sleep patterns on a regular basis, it can have negative effects on our brain health.
During sleep, the brain goes through a process known as glymphatic system activation, which helps clear away toxins and waste products that build up throughout the day. If we don’t get enough sleep, this clearance process may be compromised, leading to the accumulation of harmful substances in the brain that could contribute to cognitive decline and increase the risk of dementia.
Sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive function, including memory, learning, and decision making. When we don’t get sufficient sleep, our ability to concentrate, retain information, and make sound judgements may be impaired. Chronic sleep deprivation can impair cognitive function over time and may be a risk factor for dementia.
Poor sleep can also affect our mood and mental health, leading to increased stress, anxiety and depression. These conditions have been associated with cognitive decline and an elevated risk of developing dementia in later life.
Lack of sleep can trigger increased inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, including the brain. These processes have been linked to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Over time, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress can damage brain cells and contribute to the development of dementia.
By prioritizing good sleep habits, such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a restful sleep environment, and practicing relaxation techniques before bedtime, we can support our brain health and reduce the risk of dementia. Getting quality sleep is essential for overall well-being and cognitive function, so it’s important to make sleep a priority in our daily routine.
Head injuries, either major head injuries or multiple smaller ones, can cause changes in the brain that increase the risk of developing memory problems and other issues related to dementia later in life. It is like the wiring in our brain gets messed up from the head injury, making it harder for our brain cells to communicate and work properly. That’s why it is important to be careful and protect our heads from injury by wearing helmets when biking or skating, being cautious during activities that could lead to falls, and seeking medical attention if we do get a head injury. Taking good care of our brains and avoiding head injuries can help reduce the risk of developing dementia in the future.
Social engagement is important in reducing our risk of developing dementia. When we interact with others, it can stimulate our brain and keep it healthy. Loneliness and isolation, on the other hand, can lead to feelings of sadness and may affect our brain’s function over time. So, staying connected with others and participating in social activities can help lower the risk of dementia.
Our brains love a good workout just as much as our bodies do. Engaging in activities that challenge our thinking activities like puzzles, learning new things, like a foreign language or how to play a musical instrument, and staying mentally active through reading or playing games, can help strengthen our brain cells and create new connections. This cognitive stimulation can build up what we call cognitive reserve, which acts as a buffer against memory problems and cognitive decline later in life.
By staying socially engaged and keeping our minds active with stimulating activities, we can help protect our brain health and lower the risk of developing dementia. Just like how we need both exercise and healthy food to keep our bodies strong, we also need social interaction and mental challenges to keep our brains in top shape.
So, in summary, dementia affects many functions of the brain, not just memory. There are some risk factors like age or genetics that we cannot change, but there are also several lifestyle choices that we can change to adjust out risk of developing dementia as we age.
Eating healthy, exercising regularly, treating risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, maintaining an active social life, and continuously exposing ourselves to mentally challenging tasks can all help reduce the risk of developing dementia in our later years.