As you age, you may have concerns about your risk of dementia. Although there are currently no approaches that are proven to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.
These include:
Control blood pressure- high blood pressure has harmful effects on the heart, blood vessels, and brain. This increases your risk of stroke and vascular dementia.
Manage blood sugar- higher than normal levels of blood sugar can lead to diabetes, therefore increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, cognitive impairment, and dementia. Making healthy food choices, getting regular exercise, and stopping smoking can all lower blood sugar levels.
Maintain a healthy weight- being overweight or obese increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease and, therefore increases the risk of dementia.
Keep active- Physical activity has been proven to fight obesity, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.
Stay mentally active- Exercising your mind is so important to keep your mind active. This includes reading, puzzles, learning a new skill and volunteering.
Treat hearing problems- Hearing loss may affect cognition and dementia risk for older adults, as well as making it more difficult to engage with others.
Take care of your mental health- treat underlying mental health problems including depression.
Drink less alcohol- Drinking too much alcohol can lead to worsening health problems including stroke, high blood pressure, memory problems and mood disorders.
~Katherine Gansen, Nurse Practitioner Behavioral Health
*If you have concerns about your memory, Katherine Gansen ARNP at Statera Integrated Health and Wellness Solutions is available to evaluate. Please call 563-207-8932 to schedule your appointment.
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