The physiological law “what is not used is atrophied” is also true for the brain.
“Dementia” is a term used to describe a decline in mental ability that gets so bad that it starts to affect daily life badly, the Alzheimer’s Association explains. It is important to understand that Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia, but not all types of dementia are Alzheimer’s. There are several forms of dementia, the most common of which are Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and vascular dementia.
Although the symptoms of dementia vary from person to person, you should see your doctor if at least two of your basic mental functions are impaired.
The main mental functions are memory, speech, the ability to focus and retain attention, make logical judgments, and visual perception.
Other early signs of dementia, the Irish Alzheimer’s Society explains, are short-term memory loss, difficulty finding words, unreasonable dramatic changes in mood or behavior, difficulty keeping track of the thread of a conversation, problems with money, inability to solve puzzles, and loss of interest in hobbies.
The most important way to combat dementia is to promote brain health. Regardless of whether you are showing early signs of dementia and regardless of your age, it is never too early to start actively caring for the health of your “supercomputer”.
Consider nourishing your brain with nutrients. Everyday Health reports that a Mediterranean diet focused on fish, nuts, omega-3 rich whole grains, olive oil, and fresh foods is one of the best diets for brain health. The antioxidants in green tea, caffeine in coffee, and curcumin in turmeric have also been linked to improved memory and decreased risk of Alzheimer’s.
A healthy body has long been associated with a healthy mind. According to Everyday Health, a large, nearly 40-year study of 19,000 people showed that cardiovascular health is directly related to the risk of dementia. So put on your sneakers and start running or walking: it’s time to work your way to healthy longevity.
Better to exercise outdoors than in the gym. Vitamin D from the sun also helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Adequate sleep is another way to naturally cleanse the brain of toxic plaque. Make sure to get eight hours of sleep every night and don’t fight sleepiness during the day. Take it – lie down and take a nap.
Another great way to train your brain is to constantly learn new things. Start learning a foreign language or playing a musical instrument. Read often, play memory games, and do crosswords. The physiological law “what is not used is atrophied” is also true for the brain. Challenge your brain every single day.
