In particular, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep have all been linked to decreasing dementia risks. Read on to learn more about these seven healthy habits which could play an important role in keeping your memory sharp and reducing your chance of dementia.
Since dementia can begin in the brain decades before diagnosis, it’s vital to learn how lifestyle habits during middle age can affect the risk of dementia later in life.
New research presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting shows how seven healthy lifestyle factors and habits may play a role in lowering the risk of dementia. The seven brain and cardiovascular health factors, known as the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7, are: eating better, getting regular exercise, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, maintaining healthy blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, and having low blood sugar.
The study included 13,720 female participants with an average age of 54 at the beginning of the study. After 20 years of follow-up, Medicare data was used to identify those diagnosed with dementia. It was found that 13%, or 1,771 participants developed dementia.
When analyzing the seven health factors, participants were given a score of zero for poor or intermediate health and one point for ideal health for a possible top score of 7. The average score was 4.3 at the start of the study and 4.2 at the 10-year mark.
After adjusting for factors such as education and age, researchers found that each increase of one point in the score decreased the risk of dementia by 6%.
“It can be empowering for people to know that by taking steps such as exercising for half an hour a day or keeping their blood pressure under control, they can reduce their risk of dementia,” said Pamela Rist, ScD, a member of the American Academy of Neurology.
With just seven simple lifestyle changes, you can help reduce the risk of dementia. More and more studies suggest the importance of taking steps in middle age to help prevent the onset of chronic illness and disease later in life. With dementia cases predicted to rise worldwide, taking the necessary steps to help people understand how to prevent the disease is vital.
Protecting Brain Health
While some degree of cognitive decline is nearly inevitable as you age, this study shows how seven factors can help the brain to continue functioning at peak potential. Simple lifestyle changes can improve memory, concentration, and overall brain function.
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