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4 WILLIAM CAPE NEWS, AUTUMN 2022
Health and Wellbeing
HOW TO DELAY DEMENTIA AND REDUCE YOUR RISK
While scientists are working hard on developing Enjoy social activity
treatments for dementia, there is still no cure. Social engagement increases mental activity and
Medications can treat some effects of underlying emotional connections to others and can help
disease, while other therapies help manage the strengthen the pathways of memories. Social
symptoms. isolation not only increases the risk of dementia,
but also increases the risk of hypertension,
Taking action in the following five areas may help depression and coronary heart disease, which are
reduce the risk of developing dementia and delay its also risk factors for dementia.
onset. For more, see yourbrainmatters.org.au.
Follow a healthy diet
Look after your heart Studies have shown that following a healthy diet –
Keeping blood pressure, cholesterol, Type II eating lots of fruit, vegetables, legumes and nuts;
diabetes and obesity under control can reduce the replacing butter with olive oil; eating fish twice a
impact of vascular dementia in particular. Quitting week; adding herbs and spices instead of salt; and
smoking also falls into this category, and it reduces limiting red meat –is associated with a reduction in
neurotoxins that could further damage neurons. the risk of dementia. Processed foods with high fats
and trans fats are associated with an increased risk
of dementia.
Be physically active
Exercise is thought to stimulate the brain to Mentally challenge your brain
produce new neurons and thereby reduce cognitive
decline. Muscle‐strengthening activities also help Use it or lose it is the key concept here. Challenging
with balance (reducing falls). As well as improving your brain with new activities can help build new
mood, exercise also helps protect your heart by brain cells and strengthen connections. These may
reducing the associated risk factors. not have impacts on memory, but there is some
evidence it aids executive functions, such as
decision‐making and reasoning, and helps to
process things faster.
Source: The University of Queensland
