Simple habits to lower dementia risk | Fusion - WeRIndia

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, affects millions globally. While age is a factor, many lifestyle choices can also raise your risk.

The good news is that nearly 45% of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed with healthy habits.

Some common risk factors include lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, hearing loss, and use of tobacco or alcohol.

Studies show that African American, Hispanic, and American Indian and Alaska Native adults are more likely to have these risk factors.

Consequently, these groups also face a higher risk of developing dementia.

Adopting healthy habits early can reduce your risk and improve brain function.

Here are a few ways to protect your brain:

• Regular movement keeps your heart and brain strong. Experts suggest at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Just 20 minutes a day can help lower your risk.
• Too much sugar in the blood can damage the brain. Type 2 diabetes is preventable and manageable. Control your blood sugar through diet, exercise, and medication if needed.
• High blood pressure limits blood flow to the brain and raises stroke risk. Take prescribed medication and maintain a healthy weight. Talk to your doctor for proper care.
• Hearing loss makes the brain work harder, affecting memory and thinking. It can also lead to social isolation. Using hearing aids may reduce your dementia risk. Consult a hearing specialist if needed.
• Smoking and heavy drinking damage the brain and increase dementia risk. Quitting smoking and drinking in moderation can protect both your brain and overall health.

Making these small lifestyle changes doesn’t cost much but offers lifelong benefits. Prevention is not only possible, it’s powerful.

Protect your brain, improve your life, and reduce your future medical costs.

A healthy brain today means a better tomorrow, and the choices you make now are worth more than crores or rupees in future health.

Image Credit: Hunterkennedyuvic, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Physical_activity_possibly.webp