Dementia is not a single disease. All of the diseases that go with the impairment of memory and similar mental abilities are called dementia. It is not known exactly what causes dementia. Early diagnosis is very important for the treatment of dementia. With early diagnosis, various treatment methods can be applied before the worsening period of the patient begins. According to research, there are some methods to reduce the risk of dementia. You may know that avoiding processed foods, eating a Mediterranean diet or doing sports can reduce the risk of dementia. There are other steps you can take to prevent dementia:
STAY AWAY FROM WATER WITH HIGH COPPER
Copper, which is one of the heavy metals; Your body needs copper because it is a vital substance for your bones, hormones and nervous system. However, since too much of anything is bad, too much of anything useful can also damage your brain. According to a 2013 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, copper can trigger the onset of Alzheimer’s and accelerate the spread of the disease. So much so that the research determined that even one-tenth of the “drinking water copper ratio” determined by the Environmental Protection Agency causes the accumulation of the pre-Alzheimer protein amyloid beta.
FOR BRAIN HEALTH SLEEP ON SIDE
Sleeping positions are important. Many people and wild animals tend to sleep on their side. In 2015, it was discovered that sleeping on the right or left side helps the brain’s waste removal process, reducing the risk of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s; Perhaps this is why the sleeping position is instinctively “sleeping on its side”. While the link between certain types of dementia and sleep is known, a recent study looked closely at the effects of sleep position on the discharge of harmful substances in the brain. Journal of Neuroscience research found that the glimpathic pathway, the area of the brain that clears waste and harmful substances, works best when lying on your side, compared to lying on your back or prone.
FIND YOUR LIFE PURPOSE
Rush University Medical researchers have uncovered an interesting link between purposefulness and the risk of dementia. It was determined that among the research participants, those who scored high on the “life purpose” test had a 2.4 times lower risk of Alzheimer’s than those who scored lower on the test. Researchers define a life filled with goals as “having a certain sense of direction and purpose, feeling good about past achievements, and having hope of achieving something in the future.” According to this definition, finding the things that make you happy (be it volunteering in a subject you are passionate about or learning to play a musical instrument) and sticking to them can have a miraculous effect on your brain.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR ORAL AND DENTAL HEALTH
Taking care of your teeth and gum health is another way to protect your brain. According to the results of an extensive study conducted over an 18-year period with the participation of more than 5,500 people, there is a strong link between unhealthy mouth and Alzheimer’s development. People who state that they brush their teeth less than once a day are 65% more likely to have dementia than those who brush twice a day. On the other hand, it is possible for bacteria that cause gum disease to reach the brain and damage the brain due to inflammation.
WALK 3 TIMES A WEEK
To see if exercise could help the brain work less, the researchers studied people with early-stage vascular cognitive impairment who did not do physical exercise during this time. After measuring their brain activities, the participants were put into an exercise process for 1 hour, 3 times a week, under the supervision of experts. Experts had the participants take brisk walks at a pace that would raise their heart rate to 65% of its maximum capacity. At the end of the study, it was revealed that the walking participants had lower blood pressure than the control group; On the other hand, it was observed that the brains of these people began to work differently. It has been observed that the brains of walkers have less difficulty in attention-demanding times and in quick decision-making. Based on the results of this research, we can say that walking strengthens brain functions and thinking ability. While there are questions to be answered about the link between dementia and exercise, we can say that walking a little during the day is beneficial for your brain.
DEMENTATION SYMPTOMS
early stage
- Forgetfulness,
- Not being able to keep track of time
- Getting lost in familiar places.
middle stage
- Forgetting recent events and people’s names
- getting lost at home
- Facing increasing difficulties in communication,
- Needing help with personal care
- It can be listed as experiencing behavioral changes, including wandering and repetitive questioning.
late stage
- Being unaware of time and place,
- Difficulty recognizing relatives and friends
- Inability to do without assistance in personal care,
- difficulty walking,
- Experiencing behavioral changes that can increase aggression.