In the United States alone, dementia affects approximately one in ten people aged 65 years or older. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 13.8 million people aged 65+ are likely to have dementia by 2050. It’s a difficult problem that isn’t going away anytime soon.
The sad truth about dementia is that people seldom realize they’ve developed dementia until the symptoms fully manifest themselves. Dementia isn’t something that can typically be cured, but you can reduce your risk of having it.
Is Dementia a Disease?
Some people assume that dementia is a medical disease. But, it’s actually the name given to a group of symptoms caused by other conditions. Most people with dementia (60% to 80%) also have Alzheimer’s disease, but there are approximately 50 additional causes of dementia.
The typical causes of dementia include:
- Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis;
- Vascular diseases;
- Brain damage caused by physical trauma;
- Infections of the central nervous system, such as meningitis and HIV;
- Some forms of hydrocephalus, a fluid build-up on the brain.
Risk Factors
People can also develop dementia due to certain risk factors, including:
- Alcohol and substance abuse;
- Depression;
- History of dementia in your family;
- Medical conditions like Down syndrome and diabetes.
Can You Avoid Developing Dementia?
There’s no guaranteed way of avoiding dementia in the later years of your life. However, there are some practical steps you can take to diminish many risk factors. They are as follows:
Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
Watching what you eat, and doing physical exercise regularly will significantly lower your risk of developing dementia. You don’t need to run for several miles daily or exist on a diet that only consists of healthy shakes.
Spending just 150 minutes per week walking or riding a bicycle will help. Also, eating a balanced diet consisting mainly of fruit and vegetables and reducing salt and sugar intake will help.
Quit Smoking
Most people know that smoking puts you in danger of developing all kinds of medical conditions, including diabetes and cancer. But, smoking can also increase the risk of developing dementia.
Quit Drinking Alcohol
Did you know that excessive regular consumption of alcohol can lead to alcohol-related brain damage? As you know, brain damage is one of the leading causes of dementia. By quitting alcohol, you eliminate that risk factor.
Living With Dementia
If you develop dementia, it’s something that not only affects you but also impacts your loved ones. That’s especially true if they are your care provider as the dementia progresses.
It makes sense to seek professional dementia care. That’s because it can often put severe physical and mental strain on loved ones that care for you at home. If you prefer to stay at home, you’ll need to have some adjustments made to have the right care.
For example, your home may need changes to make it easier to identify areas such as the bathroom, bedroom, and living room. You’ll also need to ensure your home is safe. A care professional can conduct a risk assessment of your home and tell you what changes you should make.
Lastly, you’ll need to have care provided by people who communicate with you in a safe, calm, and reassuring manner. Caregivers with experience in interpreting your actions as the disease progresses will help everyone avoid any misunderstanding.
