Jan 08, 2020
For those living with dementia or the
caregivers who support them, the illness can be a challenging journey. Families
enduring this condition may not know how to navigate care, but it’s important
to know, you’re not alone and help is available.
Dementia in its many forms is referred to as a
group of complex diseases that cause memory loss, impairing the ability to
think or make everyday decisions. Though advances in medicine are ongoing and
researchers are working aggressively to find a cure, there are still few known
treatments to stop the progression of the disease.
That said, a new study offers a glimmer of
hope. Researchers say a healthy lifestyle might be one way to fend off the
diagnosis for those with a genetic pre-disposition for
dementia.
The first-of-its-kind findings in a JAMA Network study show
that lifestyle factors and genetic factors both play a role in the risk for
dementia. Researchers determined people with a genetic history of dementia
may lower their high risk by one-third by eating healthy foods, exercising and
not smoking.
A team at the University of Exeter in the United
Kingdom followed nearly 200,000 people ages 60 and older, and found a 32
percent decrease of dementia in those who had a high genetic risk of dementia
but incorporated healthier choices.
To understand exactly how lifestyle factors
may fend off dementia, the research team grouped the participants into high,
intermediate and low genetic risk for dementia based on their lifestyle
behaviors including:
·
self-reported diet
·
physical activity
·
smoking
·
alcohol consumption
Those with a high genetic risk of dementia
coupled with an unhealthy lifestyle were almost three times more
likely to develop symptoms of the disease compared to those with a low genetic
risk and healthy lifestyle.
If you’re looking for some ideas to help
jumpstart a healthier lifestyle,
consider these tips. It may be less daunting to start small and build from
there.
·
Drink more water, less soda
·
Schedule a daily 10-minute walk
·
Make sleep a priority to ensure you’re getting
enough
·
Drink alcohol in moderation
— or not at all
·
Don’t smoke
·
Check your blood pressure and cholesterol
·
Maintain a healthy weight by eating a variety of
wholesome foods
While we can’t change the genes we inherit,
this latest research shows we can control our lifestyle choices, and embracing
healthier habits is one way to stack the odds in our favor.
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