A new study published in the Lancet has established that almost 50% of dementia worldwide (not just in the US) could be prevented with lifestyle changes.
There are 14 risk factors that are associated with the dementia diseases: hearing loss, vision loss, hypertension, smoking, obesity, depression, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury (TBI), air pollution, low level of education, and social isolation.
While we can’t always avoid a traumatic brain injury or air pollution, we absolutely can do something about some of the other risk factors.
Getting a hearing test and a vision test are important self care practices. Many of my friends and family have hearing aides now and they are almost invisible.
High cholesterol, high blood pressure, social isolation, lack of physical activity, and obesity can all be helped with lifestyle changes and medication.
It boils down to eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and keeping up with our friends and family!
If you want to keep the Dementia Demon away, take action on at least one of these risk factors today! It’s never too late to start a walking program and you don’t need any special equipment, or hours of time. Start today with a fifteen-minute walk around the neighborhood!
Commit to taking better care of YOU now and your future self will thank you!
Walking not only helps you keep dementia away, but can also help your weight loss efforts, reduce any back pain that you may be feeling, strengthen your legs, and reduce your symptoms of diabetes. When you walk with friends or family, you keep each other accountable, have more fun, and keep those social connections! BIG WIN!
Here’s a video of a simple exercise that you can do, sitting, for relief of low back pain.
Best of Health,
Kathi
