Dementia Can Sometimes Be Avoided And Maybe Even Reversed

man with dementia Although the number of people with dementia is rising that’s partly due to the fact that people are generally living longer now. With so many people living into their 80s and 90s these days, and even to 100 and beyond, it’s no surprise that there are many more cases of dementia. But on closer inspection, it seems the risk of older people developing dementia is actually going down.

Claudia Kawas, a geriatric neurologist and the founder of the 90+ Study at the University of California, Irvine, says “An 80-year-old now is less likely to get dementia than 20 years ago, that’s a pretty profound change to happen in just 20 years, effectively a generation.”

And the 90+ Study is only one of several large studies that have come to the same conclusion. In fact, one, at the University of Michigan, concluded that the incidence of dementia was 24 percent lower in 2012 than in 2000, after studying more than 20,000 people of 65 and over.

Lifestyle change is a big factor

And Kawas concludes that since there’s no drug to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease the drop must be due very largely to lifestyle changes. As she says, people taking care of themselves by taking exercise and eating a sensible diet are effectively reducing their risk as a result.

Just to clarify, dementia itself isn’t a disease, per se. It’s more a description of various symptoms which can include memory problems, the inability to concentrate and make considered decisions, together with other mental issues that can affect daily life.

Alzheimer’s disease, on the other hand, is characterised by the growth of plaques that can destroy brain cells, and although it’s probably the most common and certainly the most well known cause of dementia, its root causes are still not properly understood.

Some causes of dementia (and some red herrings)

Poor eating habits. It has been shown that a diet causing even slightly raised blood sugar can increase the risk of dementia. Avoiding foods and drinks high in sugar is therefore thought to help prevent dementia and might even help reverse the condition.
Vitamin deficiencies. Among the suspected causes of dementia are deficiencies of
vitamins B1 and B12. B1 is essential for blood sugar to be used as energy by the brain, and if there is a deficiency if can lead to brain cell damage. Vitamin B1, it’s worth noting, is depleted by alcohol, although some studies seem to indicate a low alcohol intake is beneficial in general terms.Vitamin B12 is a component of myelin, which forms a protective sheath around nerves and brain cells, and this vitamin can be harder to absorb as a person ages. Taking a daily B-complex supplement can put an end to these deficiencies.
Poor sleep pattern. Although it’s not uncommon these days for people to have disturbed sleep patterns, particularly due to modern technology, it’s worth mentioning that lack of proper sleep is seen as an unnecessary heightened risk of dementia.Making sleep a priority, rather than allowing the TV and internet to determine when we go to bed would seem to be a sensible way to overcome this risk. And a way to encourage healthy sleep could be as simple as having a proper bedtime routine in place.
Undiagnosed low thyroid. The symptoms of hypothyroidism can easily be mistaken for dementia. Fatigue, listlessness, feeling down, etc, can all seem to point to dementia, when in fact low thyroid activity is the problem.
Depression. Another condition that can mimic dementia is depression (although it has to be said, if the patient does have dementia it could cause depression as well).
Medications. Many drugs can cause dementia-like symptoms as side effects, so a medic could easily misdiagnose in those circumstances. Among the culprits are drugs for Parkinson’s, for heart conditions and for depression.These side effects are not necessarily common, of course, and can be quite rare in many cases, but it’s always worth reading the literature that comes with the medication.
Lack of social interaction. Being isolated or having few friends can leave a person feeling very lonely and vulnerable. These aren’t the ideal condition for really good health, and it has been shown that they actually constitute a dementia risk in themselves.Bryan James, PhD, the lead researcher in a study of more than 1,100 people with an average age of 80 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago says, “Our findings suggest that social inactivity itself leads to cognitive impairments.”
Delirium. Sudden changes in behaviour can easily be mistaken for dementia, specially when the behaviour is odd or strange. Delirium can show up as confusion, memory impairment and disorientation, sometimes resulting in odd behaviour.It often comes on after a medical procedure or while taking medications that can sometimes react toxically with each other.

Lifestyle tips for avoiding dementia

Have a proper sleep pattern, and try to get seven or eight hours sleep a night, as a general rule.)
Reduce stress. Meditate for a few minutes each day, do a little yoga, listen to relaxing music … whatever works for you.
Take regular exercise. Even 15 minutes, three or four times a week will help. Visit the local swimming pool, take a yoga class, whatever suits you (but preferably in a social setting).
See your dentist. Poor dental health has been linked to a higher risk of dementia.
Eat a healthy diet. Avoid processed food and eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Also avoid sugar and drink plenty of water.
Have a healthy social life. Talk to your neighbours, go to the theatre or the cinema occasionally, visit a museum, as long as you’re interacting with people.If you haven’t any close friends or family, maybe you could volunteer to do some work where you would be meeting people and chatting to them.