Habits That Increase Your Risk of Dementia, Especially Smoking and Insufficient Sleep
Habits That Increase Your Risk of Dementia
A new study published in the British newspaper dailymail has identified 16 risk factors that can increase your chances of developing dementia.
The study, conducted by the Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), found that the most common risk factors for dementia are:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Lack of exercise
- High levels of cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Hearing loss
- Head injury
- Depression
The study also found that the following factors may increase your risk of dementia:
- Poor diet
- Too much alcohol
- Lack of sleep
- Lack of social interaction
ADI estimates that if these risk factors were addressed, it could prevent 55.6 million cases of dementia by 2050.
Here are some tips to help reduce your risk of dementia:
- Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Get regular exercise. To help reduce your risk of dementia, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of dementia.
- Don't smoke. Smoking is a major risk factor for dementia.
- Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels to reduce your risk of dementia. High blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels and increase your risk of dementia.
- Get enough sleep. Adults who want to maintain optimal cognitive function should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
- Stay socially active. Social interaction is a key factor in maintaining cognitive health.
It's important to note that these are just risk factors, not guarantees. If you are concerned about your risk of dementia, schedule an appointment with your doctor today.
- The study found that the risk of dementia is higher for people who have multiple risk factors. For example, a person who is obese, smokes, and has high blood pressure is at a much higher risk of dementia than a person who has only one of these risk factors.
- The study also found that the risk of dementia increases with age. The risk of dementia is low for people under 65, but it increases significantly after age 65.
- Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that currently has no cure. However, there are treatments that can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. These treatments can help improve quality of life and delay the progression of the disease.
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