senior citizen
A man soaks his feet in a fountain while reading a magazine on the Rose Kennedy Greenway on a warm summer afternoon in Boston Reuters/ Brian Snyder

Dementia is described as a broad category of brain illnesses that affects your emotional response, cognitive function and language skills, among others. Alzheimer’s Disease is a form of dementia and there are several others that usually trigger during late adulthood. Knowing about the risk factors and exercising preventive measures for dementia will help you retain good mental function until your later years.

1. Eat a nutritious diet

NHS suggested that you have to eat more nutritious food consisting of whole grains, fruits and vegetables to minimize the risk for some types of dementia. Limit your sodium and sugar intake because these can cause your blood pressure and cholesterol levels to rise. Having high blood pressure and cholesterol has been shown to increase the risk for dementia. Eat more organic and low-fat foods and avoid processed foods and those that are high in saturated fat.

2. Exercise

Exercising will improve blood circulation throughout your body and also lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Brain function is improved significantly by doing cardiovascular exercise. Work out for 150 minutes on average per week to prevent being overweight and improve heart and circulatory system function.

3. Quit bad habits

Stop smoking and drinking alcohol because these can lead to the narrowing of your arteries and clogging of blood vessels. When your blood vessels are compromised, you will develop high blood pressure, increasing your risk for dementia. Drink alcohol moderately or in small amounts and quit other vices like drug use and living a sedentary lifestyle.

4. Keep your brain active

Mayo Clinic advised that you should keep exercising your brain to maintain good cognitive function. Some of the ideal activities to exercise your brain include reading, writing poetry, solving puzzles, playing mind games and taking up new educational courses. These are great at stimulating your neurological function and preventing dementia.

5. Sleep better

People who constantly deprive themselves of sleep and proper rest periods are more prone to developing dementia. Rest your mind and have seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Also take a 20 to 45-minute nap after lunch to enhance brain function.

Your exposure to dementia can be lowered by managing your lifestyle early on. While there really is no known cure for the condition, you can lower your exposure by living healthier.

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