Susan always knew that when she retired she would be living an active lifestyle. At 68, she’s now visited more than 12 countries and has lots more to go. On some days you’ll find her investigating a hiking trail with her grandkids, on others she will be volunteering at a local hospital, and sometimes you will see her out on the lake.
Seeing and doing new things is what Susan is all about. But occasionally, Susan can’t help but worry about how cognitive decline or dementia could completely change her life.
Her mother displayed first signs of dementia when she was around Susan’s age. Susan watched her mother, who she had always loved and respected, struggle more and more with everyday tasks over a 15 year period. She forgets random things. Eventually, she could only identify Susan on a good day.
Having experienced what her mother went through, Susan has always attempted to remain healthy, eating a well-balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise. But she isn’t certain that will be enough. Are there confirmed ways to delay dementia or cognitive decline?
Fortunately, it is possible to stave off cognitive decline by doing a few things. Three of them are listed here.
1. Get Exercise
Susan found out that she’s already on the right track. She does try to get the suggested amount of exercise each day.
Lots of research supports the fact that people who do modest exercise regularly as they age have a reduced risk for cognitive decline and dementia. They’ve also had a positive impact on people who are already noticing symptoms of mental decline.
Here are several reasons why scientists think regular exercise can ward off cognitive decline.
- Exercise decreases the deterioration of the nervous system that typically occurs as we get older. The brain needs these nerves to communicate with the body, process memories, and think about how to do things. Exercise slows this deterioration so scientists believe that it could also slow mental decline.
- Exercise could enhance the production of neuroprotection factors. Your body has mechanisms that protect certain kinds of cells from harm. These protectors might be produced at a higher level in people who get an abundance of exercise.
- The risk of cardiovascular disease is lowered by exercising. Nutrients and oxygen are carried to the brain by blood. If cardiovascular disease blocks this blood flow, cells die. Exercise might be able to delay dementia by keeping these vessels healthy.
2. Have Vision Concerns Treated
The occurrence of mental decline was cut almost in half in individuals who had their cataracts removed according to an 18-year study carried out on 2000 people.
Maintaining healthy eyesight is essential for cognitive health in general even though this research only concentrated on one prevalent cause of eyesight loss.
People frequently begin to isolate themselves from friends and withdraw from things they love when they lose their eyesight at an older age. Further studies have investigated connections between social separation and worsening dementia.
Getting cataracts treated is essential. You’ll be safeguarding yourself against the development of dementia if you do what you can to preserve healthy vision.
3. Get Hearing Aids
You might be going towards mental decline if you have untreated hearing loss. A hearing aid was given to 2000 participants by the same researchers that performed the cataract study. They used the same techniques to test for the advance of cognitive decline.
They got even more remarkable results. The individuals who received the hearing aids saw their dementia advancement rates decline by 75%. Essentially, whatever existing dementia they may have currently had was almost completely stopped in its tracks.
This has some probable reasons.
The social element is the first thing. People will often go into isolation when they have neglected hearing loss because socializing with friends at restaurants and clubs becomes a struggle.
Additionally, a person gradually forgets how to hear when they start to lose their hearing. The degeneration gradually affects other parts of the brain the longer the person waits to get their hearing aids.
Researchers have, in fact, utilized an MRI to compare the brains of individuals with untreated hearing loss to those who use a hearing aid. The brain actually shrinks in individuals with untreated hearing loss.
That’s definitely not good for your memory and mental capabilities.
If you have hearing aids, wear them to stave off dementia. If you’re putting off on getting a hearing aid, even with hearing loss, it’s time to call us for a hearing assessment. Learn about today’s technologically advanced designs that help you hear better.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3258000/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/10/11/hearing-aids-slow-dementia-75-new-study-finds/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6581941/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5764000/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy_aging/healthy_body/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
https://www.helpingmehear.com/hearing-aids-facts/