Keep your body and mind healthy: Fight the onset of dementia with these tips!
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As of 2022, as many as 487,500 people were estimated to be living with dementia in Australia.
This figure is expected to balloon to 1.1 million by 2058, barring any significant medical breakthrough in treating the disease.
We hear about it all the time but what is dementia?
Dementia Australia explains that it ‘is not one specific disease’. Rather, it is ‘a collection of symptoms’ caused by illnesses that affect the brain.
Many diseases cause dementia-like symptoms, but the four most commonly known are Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Disease, and Frontotemporal Dementia.
Most reported symptoms include memory loss, general changes in cognition like slower reaction time and problem-solving abilities, frequent bouts of confusion, increased isolation from family and friends, and a varied temperament.
Dementia occurs mostly in the older population, with one in every ten people aged 65 and over affected by the disease. By 85 years old, this increases to three in every ten people.
Though there’s also a form of dementia called Younger-Onset Dementia which, as the name suggests, presents in people as young as their 30s.
Most notably, Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth put his acting career on pause after testing revealed he was genetically predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s Disease.
One of the more sobering things to think about dementia and related diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease is that as of yet, there is no known cure that can completely reverse the effects of age-related cognitive decline.
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration granted conditional approval for Lecanemab — a drug that showed promise in halting the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease — but not without questions on the true nature of its effectiveness as some say improvements are only good for five months at most.
Back on home soil, there’s also a trial underway at the University of Queensland on using ultrasound technology to stimulate the same brain cells that are affected by Alzheimer's Disease.
However, any results are still a long way off as the effort is still in its early stages — essentially returning us back to square one (not that we ever moved anyway, at least in terms of a cure).
Enter the age-old saying: ‘An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.’ Well… 450 grams
The Alzheimer's Association, a US-based organisation that ‘leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia’, has come up with ways seniors can keep their minds sharp.
One of the most important things you can do is to keep active. This means regularly exercising and remaining physically fit. It doesn’t mean tiring yourself out on a daily basis — it can mean something as simple as taking a walk when you can. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, exercise not only helps the body but is also good for the brain, keeping it sharp and reducing stress.
Take care, though, not to injure the ol’ noggin as brain injuries are said to raise the risk of dementia. While being physically active, it pays to be safe, so wear a helmet when appropriate and take advantage of other safety features like seatbelts.
Speaking of the brain, staying active mentally is also important. Keep learning and expanding your mind; take on new challenges and start a new hobby or skill. For one, you could participate in the games we have at our Jokes, Fun, and Games forum such as ‘What’s This Image?’, ‘Ozword’, or the daily Riddle threads.
The diet you follow is also important. A diet full of processed foods is not going to help in protecting your brain health. Cut down on processed foods and sugar, and instead fill your plate with lots of nutritious fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Getting enough sleep is also essential. Aim for enough hours of deep, restful sleep each night as there seems to be a relationship between poor sleep and developing dementia.
On the topic of healthy lifestyle changes, avoid smoking too! Smoking increases the risk of issues in blood circulation, which are themselves known risk factors for dementia.
Finally, it's important not to isolate yourself. Make sure you have support from your family and friends, and stay connected with your local community — and your online one here at the SDC!
Follow these doable strategies to help reduce your risk of being diagnosed with dementia.
Remember, it’s never too late to start giving your brain the love and protection that it deserves.
Do you have any tips for staying healthy? Share in the comments below!
This figure is expected to balloon to 1.1 million by 2058, barring any significant medical breakthrough in treating the disease.
We hear about it all the time but what is dementia?
Dementia Australia explains that it ‘is not one specific disease’. Rather, it is ‘a collection of symptoms’ caused by illnesses that affect the brain.
Many diseases cause dementia-like symptoms, but the four most commonly known are Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Disease, and Frontotemporal Dementia.
Most reported symptoms include memory loss, general changes in cognition like slower reaction time and problem-solving abilities, frequent bouts of confusion, increased isolation from family and friends, and a varied temperament.
Dementia occurs mostly in the older population, with one in every ten people aged 65 and over affected by the disease. By 85 years old, this increases to three in every ten people.
Dementia is the leading cause of death among women in Australia, according to Dementia Australia. Image Credit: Pexels/Kindel Media
Though there’s also a form of dementia called Younger-Onset Dementia which, as the name suggests, presents in people as young as their 30s.
Most notably, Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth put his acting career on pause after testing revealed he was genetically predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s Disease.
One of the more sobering things to think about dementia and related diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease is that as of yet, there is no known cure that can completely reverse the effects of age-related cognitive decline.
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration granted conditional approval for Lecanemab — a drug that showed promise in halting the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease — but not without questions on the true nature of its effectiveness as some say improvements are only good for five months at most.
Back on home soil, there’s also a trial underway at the University of Queensland on using ultrasound technology to stimulate the same brain cells that are affected by Alzheimer's Disease.
However, any results are still a long way off as the effort is still in its early stages — essentially returning us back to square one (not that we ever moved anyway, at least in terms of a cure).
Enter the age-old saying: ‘An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.’ Well… 450 grams
The Alzheimer's Association, a US-based organisation that ‘leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia’, has come up with ways seniors can keep their minds sharp.
There are trials underway to find an effective cure for diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease. Image Credit: Pexels/MART PRODUCTION
One of the most important things you can do is to keep active. This means regularly exercising and remaining physically fit. It doesn’t mean tiring yourself out on a daily basis — it can mean something as simple as taking a walk when you can. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, exercise not only helps the body but is also good for the brain, keeping it sharp and reducing stress.
Take care, though, not to injure the ol’ noggin as brain injuries are said to raise the risk of dementia. While being physically active, it pays to be safe, so wear a helmet when appropriate and take advantage of other safety features like seatbelts.
Speaking of the brain, staying active mentally is also important. Keep learning and expanding your mind; take on new challenges and start a new hobby or skill. For one, you could participate in the games we have at our Jokes, Fun, and Games forum such as ‘What’s This Image?’, ‘Ozword’, or the daily Riddle threads.
Getting enough sleep is also essential. Aim for enough hours of deep, restful sleep each night as there seems to be a relationship between poor sleep and developing dementia.
On the topic of healthy lifestyle changes, avoid smoking too! Smoking increases the risk of issues in blood circulation, which are themselves known risk factors for dementia.
Follow these doable strategies to help reduce your risk of being diagnosed with dementia.
Remember, it’s never too late to start giving your brain the love and protection that it deserves.
Do you have any tips for staying healthy? Share in the comments below!
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