Watching someone suddenly fight to remember simple everyday things is heartbreaking.
The person is always physically present, but as their memory decreases, the personality and the feeling of oneself begin to disappear.
The loss and the required care weighing enormously on families.
Advance Alzheimer’s search is promising for more effective treatments, previous detection and improvement patient care.
Researchers have examined potential causes and risk of dementia for years. In 2024, the Commission Lancet on prevention, intervention and dementia care suggest that up to 45% of dementia cases can be prevented by fully approaching 14 lifestyle risk factors, in particular:
- Do not finish secondary education, resulting in a less cognitive reserve,
- hearing loss,
- high LDL cholesterol,
- depression,
- trauma of brain lesions,
- physical inactivity,
- diabetes,
- smoking,
- hypertension,
- obesity,
- excessive alcohol consumption,
- social isolation,
- air pollution,
- and untreated visual loss.
Dr. Virginia Kellner, native and neurologist from Lafayette, underlines the point that lifestyle changes can considerably reduce the risk of dementia. Kellner says that up to half the dementia cases could be prevented with these lifestyle changes on the 14 risk factors.
Even those who have a genetic predisposition to dementia can decrease their risk by healthy choices:
- prioritize cognitive stimulating activities throughout life,
- minimizing exposure to harmful noise,
- remain socially active and avoid isolation;
- approach the loss of vision when possible;
- Maintain healthy management habits and stress management.
The most critical period to make these changes is forty, between 18 and 65 years old, although the advantages can still be seen later in life.
The role of the food diet in brain health
The intervention of the Mediterranean regime for neurodegenerative delay, or mental diet, targets the health of the aging brain.
This diet combines healthy foods depending on the foods found in countries close to the Mediterranean Sea, as well as food approaches to stop the hypertension diet that was created by doctors from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Catherine, “Cathy”, Champagne famous 35 years old at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La.
Dr. Cathy Champagne, the main developer of The Dash Diet, said it was an easy -to -respect meal plan and working for the whole family.
“It is scientifically proven to reduce blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and work to improve metabolism regardless of your size,” said Champagne.
The three regimes (the spirit, the Mediterranean and the dashboard) highlight plant -based foods and limit the supply of animal and high foods.
Research shows that people who have followed the diet experienced a 53% development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Here is an example of a day to eat at Dash Diet, that Le Pennington Biomedical Research Center helped to formulate.
“Even those who joined food have moderately demonstrated a reduced risk,” said Lafayette neurologist Kellner.
The mind regime encourages the consumption of:
- Extra virgin olive oil (used as primary cooking oil)
- Six portions or more per week of green leafy vegetables
- Other vegetables (at least one portion per day)
- Two portions or more bays per week
- Three portions per day of whole grains
- seafood (at least once a week)
- poultry (twice a week)
- beans and legumes (at least four portions per week)
- Nuts (at least five or more portions per week).
Foods to avoid with diet include fried and fatty foods, candies and pastries, butter and trans-fat margarine, completely oily cheese and red meat.
The importance of cognitive commitment
Although improving diet and exercise will help reduce the risk factors involved in dementia and brain aging, people must also work to keep the brain active throughout life.
Kellner advises that any activity that questions the brain – such as reading, resolving puzzles or learning a new instrument or language – can help strengthen cognitive resilience.
Even small things, such as memorizing a grocery list instead of counting a digital list on the phone, can be beneficial.
Dr. Jeff Keller, director of the Research and Prevention Institute at the Penington Institute at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and aging teacher and neurodegeneration, said that these small measures to test the mind, accompany a long way with the cerebral aging of the latter.
Dr Jeffery Keller
A study published in neurology in 2021 revealed that high levels of cognitive activity, such as reading, games such as verifiers, puzzles and writing letters, can delay the appearance of five years of Alzheimer’s disease among the 80th and over.
Another study by the Journal of the American Medical Association Open, published in July 2023, revealed that frequently engaged in brain relaxation activities, including journalization, chess game and crossword resolution was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia in the elderly.
“These activities increase the cognitive reserve or the mental library,” said Keller. “While new books are added, the library becomes more and more. The construction of this information library in your brain creates a buffer for memory loss.”
Although maintaining the active brain throughout life is essential to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, the management of other risk factors (such as depression, isolation and the environment) must support these activities.
Social and environmental factors
Regular recordings with a doctor can help detect and manage the symptoms of dementia early, guaranteeing the best possible care.
Social isolation is a considerable risk factor of dementia, increasing the probability of the condition by 27%. Staying socially engaged helps the brain to become more resilient.
To meet this challenge, Kellner recommends the participation of the community, family gatherings and joint clubs – everything that promotes connection.
Stress management is an essential, although indirect factor. Chronic stress increases inflammation and cortisol levels, which can contribute to the risk of dementia by worsening vascular problems.
“Stress can also lead to depression, which has been linked to an increased risk of dementia,” said Kellner.
Louisiana residents can also face environmental risks due to air pollution. The material of industrial processes, vehicle emissions and forest fires has been linked to vascular damage in the brain.
“We always learn direct effects, but minimizing exposure to pollutants is an intelligent long-term brain health decision,” she said.
Habits such as exercise, reading and eating well can be incorporated at any age. Evaluations are available through primary care providers for people concerned about cognitive problems.
For young generations, the best advice is to establish a basis for good health early.
“Take the highest quality of education possible, stay physically and mentally active and set out your global health,” said Kellner.