A word that gives pause to even the most confident amongst us.
So many of us have been touched (or one day will be touched) by this diagnosis that the condition does not call for an explanation. Yet bringing into the open a group of conditions which are classified under dementias is so vitally important because of the wonderful advances that medical research is making in the field.
Dementia is a loss of cognitive ability, which is about our ability to think.
A number of physical changes occur in the brain with dementias. Several intellectual, as well as personality, changes take place over time as the tissues gradually die.
The physical changes may be due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood to the sensitive tissues, or they may be due to genetic and/or environmental factors that bring about structural changes to the cells of the brain. We know so much already but there is still much more to learn.
Like so many disease processes described in medical writings, Dementia has numerous causes. Some of these causes are still unknown but new research is shining light on lifestyle factors that may help prevent the development of the disease process.
In the meantime, current research indicates there is much we can do in our lifestyle choices that may help prevent the development of dementia. The really cool part is that much of this strategy involves activities we know we should be doing for generally good health anyway.
- Physical exercise provides oxygen-rich blood to those sensitive brain tissues – and plenty of it! Just what a healthy organ needs to stay healthy. Getting out and about for some solid aerobic workouts about 30 minutes, five times a week, provides a great support for a busy brain. There is even some evidence that exercise may help individuals who are already experiencing mild cognitive impairment (a precursor to more advanced intellectual losses).
- The Mediterranean Diet, long a mainstay of a good cardiac care lifestyle, may be a big help with dementias too. So look to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and vegetable oils to fill out your dietary requirements. This are fun and flavorful dietary choices. Limit consumption of saturated fats, generally found in animal meats, and your cardiovascular system fairs better over time. And when cardiovascular disease is limited, blood can reach all of those vital organs that keep us going.
- Social Connections also appear to be significant factors in the prevention of cognitive impairments. Like many of the aspects listed here, the “use it or lose it” theory seems to play a large role. Humans are social beings, and while we are still learning about how these interpersonal connections work in our physical makeup, they do appear to be significant. So connecting with other people, whether through social conventions like churches or senior centers (or some may say through social media on the Internet, though it is too early to know for sure), it is very important to connect with other people.
- Mental Stimulation can also go a long way in keeping a brain, like any other organ, in good working order. Learning new things, like picking up a new musical instrument, stresses the brain and like any other physical structure, when stressed the organ comes back stronger. The key here is being engaged in mentally challenging activity. Passive intellectual exercises (i.e. watching television) does not push the brain well enough to produce the desired effects. And current marketing efforts notwithstanding, playing brain games have not yet been connected with improved memory or other mental abilities. It seems like a good theory though, so let’s hope the research eventually supports it.
So if you have been looking for additional motivation to start cleaning up or maintaining a positive lifestyle, this information just might help.
Do you know of any other supports or good information on this subject? Please feel free to share. I would love to hear from you.
“Forgetting who you are is so much more complicated than simply forgetting your name. It’s also forgetting your dreams. Your aspirations. What makes you happy. What you pray you’ll never have to live without. It’s meeting yourself for the first time, and not being sure of your first impression.”
― Jessica Brody
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