10 Daily Habits That Can Increase the Risk Of Dementia

8 Sleeping too much

As you get older, it’s normal for your sleep habits to change. For example, parents of a new baby might sleep an average of three to four hours a night, while a 60-year-old who just retired might sleep nine hours a night. In the same study of 7,500 women, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & dementia, researchers found that sleeping more than eight hours a night raised the risk of dementia by 35%.

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9 Ignoring chronic illness

High blood pressure and diabetes that are not treated are two of the biggest risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. People with diabetes are up to 73% more likely to get dementia, and people with diabetes are even more likely to get vascular dementia. Taking care of it with medicine, a healthy diet, and exercise can greatly lower the risk of dementia.

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10 Eating too much sugar

You should reduce your daily sugar intake because a diet high in sugar may cause dementia. A study that was just published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that sugar and dementia are linked even if you don’t have diabetes and that a blood sugar level above normal (numbers vary depending on your activity level, weight, and other factors) can increase the risk of dementia. It is very important to keep track of how much sugar you eat every day, especially if you have a family history of dementia.

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Choosing a healthy way of life makes a difference

Dementia is a painful disease that can make people forget things, lose their independence, and lose the ability to talk. As the disease worsens, the symptoms worsen and can eventually make it hard to do everyday things. There is no specific test that can tell if someone has dementia. Instead, the diagnosis is usually based on the person’s medical history, a physical exam, cognitive tests, and a brain scan. There is no cure for dementia right now, but there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms and make life better.

You can make choices now that will decrease your chances of ending up with dementia later in life. Keeping your body active and adopting good daily habits is one of the most important things you can do. Exercise keeps your brain healthy and increases the flow of blood to it. Adopting a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps prevent brain damage as these foods are full of essential nutrients. Socializing with friends and staying interested in what’s happening keeps your mind active and sharp, lowering your risk of dementia.

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