Susan is living the active lifestyle she always knew she would in retirement. At 68, she’s now been to more than 12 countries and has lots more on her list. On some days she can be found exploring a hiking trail with her grandchildren, on others she will be volunteering at a local hospital, and sometimes you will see her out on the lake.
Susan always has something new to do or see. But in the back of her mind, Susan is concerned that cognitive decline or dementia could change all that.
When Susan’s mother was about her age she started exhibiting the first signs of cognitive decline. 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. There eventually came a time when she frequently couldn’t identify Susan anymore.
Susan has tried to eat a healthy diet and exercise so she could hopefully steer clear of what her mother experienced. But she isn’t certain that will be enough. Is there anything else she can do that’s been shown to delay cognitive decline and dementia?
The good news is, it is possible to stave off cognitive decline by doing a few things. Three of them are listed here.
1. Exercise Regularly
This one was already part of Susan’s everyday life. She does try to get the suggested amount of exercise every day.
People who do moderate exercise daily have a decreased risk of mental decline according to many studies. They’ve also shown a positive effect on people who are already experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline.
Here are numerous reasons why scientists believe regular exercise can ward off mental decline.
- As a person ages, the nervous system degenerates and consistent exercise can slow this. The brain needs these nerves to communicate with the body, process memories, and consider how to do things. Researchers think that because exercise slows this breakdown, it also slows cognitive decline.
- Exercise could enhance the production of neuroprotection factors. There are mechanisms within your body that safeguard some cells from harm. Scientists believe that an individual who exercises may produce more of these protectors.
- Exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Oxygen and nutrients are transported to the brain by blood. Cells will die when cardiovascular disease blocks this blood flow. By keeping the vessels and heart healthy, exercise may be able to delay dementia.
2. Have Vision Concerns Treated
An 18-year study of 2000 people with cataracts, revealed that getting cataract surgery halved the occurrence of cognitive decline in the group who had them removed.
Preserving healthy eyesight is important for cognitive health in general even though this research only concentrated on one prevalent cause of eyesight loss.
People frequently begin to seclude themselves from friends and withdraw from activities they love when they lose their eyesight at an older age. Additional studies have investigated links between social isolation and advancing dementia.
If you have cataracts, don’t just dismiss them. You’ll be protecting yourself against the development of dementia if you do what you can to preserve healthy vision.
3. Get Hearing Aids
If you have neglected hearing loss, you may be on your way into cognitive decline. A hearing aid was given to 2000 people by the same researchers that performed the cataract study. They tested the progression of mental decline in the same manner.
They got even more remarkable results. Mental decline was reduced by 75% in the people who received hearing aids. So the dementia symptoms they were already noticing simply stopped.
There are some probable reasons for this.
The social component is the first thing. People tend to go into isolation when they have untreated hearing loss because socializing with friends at restaurants and clubs becomes a struggle.
Also, a person gradually forgets how to hear when they begin to lose their hearing. The deterioration progressively 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 neglected hearing loss to people who use a hearing aid. The brain actually shrinks in people with untreated hearing loss.
That’s definitely not good for your memory and mental capabilities.
If you have hearing aids, wear them to ward off dementia. If you’re procrastinating on getting a hearing aid, even with hearing loss, it’s time to contact 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
