How to Reduce the Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s in seniors

According to research carried out in 2019, there are around 50 million people across the globe living with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Dementia is a condition in which an individual has symptoms that depict a loss in memory. Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, is a condition that slowly causes people to have difficulty in performing their daily activities as a result of brain issues. When a person has Alzheimer’s, he/she may also have impaired memory.

In most cases, you will find both Alzheimer’s and dementia being used interchangeably. Generally, they refer to conditions affecting the brain and memory.

Whilst childhood dementia and young onset dementia (under the age of 65) are not uncommon, these conditions are different to dementia in seniors and are caused by differing factors, with genetics often a major factor.

Research continues to show that a huge percentage of people at risk of getting Alzheimer’s and dementia are the elderly. Traditionally, this has been thought to be an unavoidable part of the ageing process for many and nothing can be done to prevent its onset if one is predisposed to the condition.  However, more recent research indicates that dementia [in seniors] can be prevented and its symptoms reversed.

It is never too soon to take action that could reduce the chances of getting this terrible condition. We are therefore going to look at key ways of reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s in seniors.

Look after yourself by taking action as soon as you can, and encourage your elderly loved ones to make these basic lifestyle changes and maintain them for as long as they are able to do so.

Physical Activity to improve blood circulation

One of the ways of reducing Alzheimer’s and dementia naturally is through regular exercise. Being physically active helps in improving blood circulation and keeping your heart and lungs healthy. The most important thing when trying to be physically active is to find appropriate exercises that fit your needs and lifestyle.

If you are having trouble getting a proper training guide you can follow the one below;

You should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activities per week. Here you can walk, ride a bike, or even push a lawnmower: or,

Try to attain 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercises, as this is essential in preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia. Here you can jog, run, ride a bike, swim, skip – but as fast and with as much effort as you can.

A mixture of the above, even in quite short bursts, is fine as long as you ensure you include some good heart-pumping exercise.

Reducing Alcohol Intake

Drinking too much alcohol increases the chances of an older adult getting Alzheimer’s and dementia. Make sure you do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. In case you drink more and have trouble reducing the amounts, here are some tips that can help;

Set a limit and abide by it. Many people find an easy option is to limit alcohol to weekends only, as long as you then don’t binge drink!

Try drinking alcohol-free drinks or soft drinks. There’s a huge range of choice these days.

Eat Healthily

Your lifestyle habits significantly affect your chances of preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia. If you want to reduce the risks of dementia and Alzheimer’s, you should adopt a healthy lifestyle. A vital part of embracing a healthy lifestyle is eating healthy. This is what eating healthy entails;

You should eat proteins like fish and eggs.
You should eat starchy foods like maize.
Make sure that you feed on at least five portions of vegetables and fruits per day.
You should always stay hydrated. In essence, you should drink at least six glasses of water or sugar-free drinks every day.
You should limit your sugar intake.

Avoid Smoking

Smoking is one of the most dangerous things any human being can engage in as it comes with numerous health issues. Smoking is known to cause various cancers, diabetes type 2, stroke, and many other complications. If an older adult is smoking, he/she is putting himself/herself at high risk of getting dementia and Alzheimer’s. You can try some of these things to help you stop smoking if you do.

Try using a date/month to help you stop smoking. You can invent things like Stop October to motivate yourself to avoid smoking in October.

You can try a nicotine-free smoking product like an e-cigarette.

You can seek medical advice from a doctor to guide you on how to stop smoking.

Conclusion

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are two dangerous conditions that can negatively affect the life of a senior immensely. It is because of this that you should exercise. Exercise plays a vital role in reducing the chances of an older person from getting dementia and Alzheimer’s. You should also avoid smoking. Apart from preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s, it helps in reducing the risk of cancers and stroke. As a senior, you should also eat healthily and reduce alcohol intake. In most cases, it can be challenging for a senior or his/her guardian to keep track of all of these things. That is why the storiicare senior activity calendar was developed. Using this platform, you can organise all of these activities, keep track of everything, store data and do much more.

Image credits:

Dementia image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Elderly men walking image by pasja1000 from Pixabay