Dementia Prevention Starts Early in Life
More than 747,000 people in Canada are living with some form of dementia, with the numbers continuing to grow as the baby boom population grows older. Yet today, the individual risk of developing dementia is half of what it was only forty years ago.
Physicians suspect that this decrease can be attributed to factors such as an overall increase in the population’s wealth and education, as well as better control over risk factors such as smoking less, and using medications to control blood pressure. Some believe this is because high blood pressure can damage small blood vessels in the brain, affecting parts of the brain responsible for thinking and memory.
Dr. Barry Goldlist, Geriatrician at Sinai Health System and UHN, explained the correlation at this month’s Healthy Ageing 101 Lunch & Learn session, at Mount Sinai Hospital. “We see dementia as a disease of old age, but in fact, so much of it is rooted in our behaviour when we’re young,” he said. “If we treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and avoid smoking in our early and mid-life years, it can go a long way towards decreasing our risk of developing dementia in our senior years,” said Dr. Goldlist.
Dr. Goldlist recommends the following lifestyle tips to lower your risk.
Treat Heart Problems
What’s bad for the heart is bad for the brain. Heart attacks and heart failure have close links with dementia. Studies show that treating heart problems may protect the brain.
Protect Your Head
Head injury increases the chance of developing memory and thinking problems down the road. Wearing a helmet and avoiding behaviours that increase the risk of head injury can therefore decrease the risk of dementia.
Control Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar Levels
High blood pressure and diabetes, especially in middle age, can harm the brain. Control of blood pressure and blood sugar levels in midlife can improve brain health and may lower the risk of dementia in older age.
Test Your Hearing
Some researchers believe that hearing loss is linked to dementia. Having your hearing corrected may lead to a lower risk of cognitive decline later in life.
Stay Curious and Willing to Learn New Things
Being an active learner keeps the brain engaged and has beneficial effects on memory and information processing.
Be Socially Engaged
Engagement in social activities – including sports, cultural programs, and support groups – has a positive effect on brain structure and function and is associated with a lower risk of dementia.
