Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect how a person’s brain works. 60,000 Kiwis
have dementia & that number is expected to almost triple by 2050.
While Dementia can affect anyone, the chances of developing dementia increase as a person ages.
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease with two out of three of those diagnosed with dementia having
Alzheimer’s.
Symptoms vary between individuals but common ones include changes in memory, thinking, behaviour, personality and
emotions which have an impact on a person’s everyday life.
Dementia is progressive, with the changes that affect the brain slowly spreading and making symptoms worse.
There has been no single cause linked with the onset of dementia however research released in 2014 in The World
Alzheimer Report suggests that there are some simple steps people can take regarding their lifestyle in order to reduce
the risk of dementia in later life. They recommend that: ‘what is good for the heart is also good for the brain’ and
that any changes to lifestyle factors can have an impact, meaning it’s never too late to start making health
improvements.
Maintaining healthy weight, exercising moderately and regularly and eating a well-balanced diet will help prevent high
cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity in the short term and in the long term reduce your dementia risk.
Being a nonsmoker and consuming alcohol at safe levels can also help.
Just 30 minutes a day, five days a week is all that’s needed to ward of a range of lifestyle diseases and conditions,
and is the minimum level recommended to reduce dementia risk. When we think of exercise we should also include mental
activity as well as physical. By learning new skills and completing mentally challenging activities can help keep you
alert.
Social contact is one of the benefits of group exercise. Whether it’s walking with company, taking a class, or heading
to an exercise facility or gym, getting amongst like-minded people while getting active is a fantastic way to keep
social and healthy.
If you are worried about someone you love displaying symptoms of dementia, or if you are experiencing these symptoms
yourself, then an appointment with your GP is the first step, as an early diagnosis means treatment and management can
begin. But don’t wait for the signs, start now by reducing your risks by getting active and making healthy lifestyle
choices today.
References:
http://www.alzheimers.org.nz
www.moh.govt.nz
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