Dementia can affect a person’s everyday life to a significant extent so knowing how to prevent dementia is important. Although it isn’t possible to get a vaccine or similar medication in order to prevent the disease, there are certain things that help to delay its onset. As there is no cure, dementia management becomes essential. Some ways you can prevent dementia or slow its onset include exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet that’s high in folic acid and staying active mentally. It’s also a good idea to reduce stress in your life as much as possible.
Exercise is one of the most effective ways to prevent dementia. There is no need to exercise for hours each day, just a small amount of low- or medium-intensity cardiovascular exercise for as little as 15 minutes can make a big difference. Exercising each day will also help to keep the mind active and increase your overall health.
Aside from staying physically active, it’s also important to stay mentally active when trying to prevent dementia. Activities such as crafting, playing games and even socializing with friends have been shown to reduce the chances of developing a cognitive impairment problem or disease in later life. There are a number of programs and games specifically for keeping the brain active and these can also be useful. Other ways to stay mentally active include reading and going to adult learning classes.
Although patients are often told to reduce stress levels for a variety of different reasons, it really can help to prevent dementia and other illnesses. When the human body is stressed certain hormones are released and the body’s aging process increases in speed. Although eliminating stress from your life completely isn’t always possible, there are usually ways to reduce it. For example, taking regular breaks from work to spend time relaxing can make a big difference. People who work long hours in a stressful job should consider trying to cut back if possible.
It’s important to keep in mind that most types of dementia have an unknown cause so true prevention is not possible. The above tips are things that can be done to reduce the chances, however, rather than preventing the disease altogether. In general, people who live a healthy lifestyle are less likely to get dementia. For example, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption are two ways to delay the onset.
