Background
Dementia is an umbrella term that covers multiple conditions. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2021), 50 million people globally are living with some form of dementia. Damage to brain cells affects cell to cell communication causing a decline in cognitive function (Alzheimer’s Association, 2021). This decline can manifest as changes in behavior, mood, thinking, and/or emotional expression. Common forms include Alzheimer’s, which accounts for 60-80% of dementia diagnoses, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, and many more (Alzheimer’s Association, 2021).
Damage to brain cells affects cell to cell communication causing a decline in cognitive function (Alzheimer’s Association, 2021). This decline can manifest as changes in behavior, mood, thinking, and/or emotional expression. While each type inflicts different damage in different areas of the brain (Alzheimer’s Association, 2021) and presents with its own unique characteristics, they all incite cognitive impairment, memory loss, and eventually significant interference with activities of daily living, including cooking, and paying bills. Due to the nature of the disease, changes due to brain cell damage are generally permanent and with time become progressively worse.
Prevention?
While there is no cure, there is a growing amount of evidence suggesting it can be prevented. In light of recent studies, the focus is shifting to factors that affect brain health and modifiable risk factors. Felix Hussendor and Steffi Reidel-Heller conducted systematic review on dementia risk factors as well as protective factors and found that modification of risk factors, cognitive preservation, and living a healthy lifestyle all have protective effects against dementia.
Modification of Risk Factors
Hussendor and Reidel-Heller (2018) point out that smoking and excessive alcohol consumption increase the risk of developing dementia. Smoking cessation and limiting excessive consumption will decrease the risk of dementia. Chronic conditions including depression, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity also increase risk of developing dementia (Hussendor & Reidel-Heller, 2018). Through prevention or management of these conditions, the risk of developing dementia later in life decreases.
Cognitive Preservation
Social activities are also found to protect cognitive function, reducing the risk. Cognitive activity from an early age along with cognitive reserve associated with education are protective factors (Hussendor & Reidel-Heller, 2018). Things such as puzzles, word crosses, or sudoku’s are just a few of many simple activities that can be done to exercise the brain.
The video below from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine gives 3 interventions, backed by encouraging evidence, for the preservation of cognitive function: cognitive training, management of high blood pressure, and remaining physically active.
Healthy Living
In their study, Hussendor & Reidel (2018) found that regular physical activity throughout the lifespan was found to protect individuals from developing dementia. In addition to staying active, they also stress the importance of nutrition. The Mediterranean diet, which is a diet rich in fiber, fresh vegetables, and unsaturated fats, is gaining popularity for protective effect against cognitive decline.
In the video below, Dr. Emilio Ros talks about the study he and his co-authors conducted. The clinical trial took place over 4 years and participants were assigned at random different diets to follow, one of which was the Mediterranean diet. This diet had been found to not only to help maintain, but also improve cognitive functioning (Valls-Pedret et al., 2015).
Conclusion
Dementia is a condition that is devastating for its victims and their loved ones. Although there is no cure for dementia, it is clear that there are many actions which can be taken to lower the risk of developing it. With the proactive modification of risk factors, efforts for cognitive preservation, and healthy living, research suggests it is possible to reduce the risk of developing this condition.
References
Alzheimer’s Association. (2021). What is dementia? Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia
Hussenoeder, F. S., & Riedel-Heller, S. G. (2018). Primary prevention of dementia: From modifiable risk factors to a public brain health agenda? Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 53(2), 1289–1301.
Valls-Pedret, C., Sala-Vila, A., Serra-Mir, M., Corella, D., Torre, R., Martinez-Gonzalez, M. A., Martinez-Lapiscina, E. H., Fito, M., Heres, A. P., Salas-Salvado, J., Estruch, R., and Ros, E. (2015). Mediterranean diet and age-related cognitive decline. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(7), 1094–1103.
Untitled image of dementia retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://online.alvernia.edu/articles/dementia-stages-signs-symptoms/
It seems that more and more research is being conducted that indicates the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet and remaining physically active. I had no idea that these two factors were also shown to prevent cognitive decline, aka, dementia. I work in a skilled nursing facility and see the devastation that dementia brings to those and their families. It beings hope to know that it can be prevented by doing simple things such as eating healthy and exercising.