Dementia is a common and disabling disease that affects the brain. The number of people with dementia is growing worldwide and is expected to triple by 2050.

There are currently over 55 million people with dementia worldwide, and nearly 10 million new cases of dementia develop each year.

Especially likely in people over the age of 65, dementia is a progressive, neurological disease that may present as forgetting things, feeling anxious, struggling to make decisions, and more. Dementia can range in severity from mild to severe, where a person may need complete assistance with daily activities. Noticing the symptoms can be scary, and being on constant alert may not be the best way to protect your mental health and emotional well-being. At the same time, knowing what symptoms to spot can be helpful.


What is dementia?

Dementia is a syndrome that causes a decline in cognitive abilities, such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning, that interferes with daily life. It's a loss of brain function that can be caused by several diseases that damage nerve cells. Dementia is more common as people age, but it's not a normal part of aging.

Dementia can have a significant impact on people with the disease, their families, carers, and society. There's often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, which can lead to stigma and barriers to diagnosis and care.


How to fight dementia:

Dementia, the umbrella term for a set of symptoms including impaired thinking and memory, is often associated with the cognitive decline of aging.

Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia that specifically affects parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Other diseases like Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease can progress to dementia.

Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells, which then interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. Other than age and genetics, there are some other risk factors at play as well. However, some simple habits can help you keep yourself at bay from dementia.

Some of those are:

Regular workout : Be physically active. This should include both aerobic and resistance activities for about 150 minutes a week at moderate intensity. Regular physical exercise can reduce your risk of developing dementia by up to 50%. Exercise can also slow further deterioration in those who have already started to develop cognitive problems.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes, 5 times a week. Whether it’s walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or joining a dance group. Consider adding strength or weight training sessions to your weekly routine. These exercises don't just build muscle, they help you maintain brain health.

Stay mentally active: Exercise your mind by doing activities that challenge yourself mentally, such as studying, learning a new language, doing crosswords, playing board games, reading books or writing, and being socially active.

Mental challenges help to build up the brain, making it less vulnerable to developing the lesions that can cause Alzheimer's disease. Mental stimulation can also help to slow brain deterioration in people who already have the disease.

Practice a musical instrument, pick up a foreign language, read a good book, and take up a new hobby. The greater the novelty and challenge, the greater the benefit. Play strategy games and puzzles. Brain teasers and riddles can give you a mental workout and train your brain to form and maintain cognitive associations. Crossword puzzles, board games, cards, Scrabble, and Sudoku are all great options.

Eat a healthy diet: Eat healthily by consuming at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day and protein at least twice a week. Limit sugar, salt, and saturated fat intake. Eat starchy foods moderately and drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day.

Research suggests that making the right food choices could protect your brain function and lower your odds of getting dementia. Additionally, for a person with dementia, proper nutrition can keep the body strong and ease behavioral symptoms.

Sugary foods, refined carbs, and fatty foods can lead to weight gain, putting you at risk of further health problems such as diabetes. Diabetes has been closely linked to Alzheimer's. Avoid these kinds at all costs and opt for healthier options.

Follow a Mediterranean diet , that is high in whole grains, vegetables, nuts, legumes, spices, oily fish, olive oil, and other foods high in omega fats, while being low in red meat, refined foods, and sugar. Mounting research shows that the DHA found within these healthy fats may help prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Food sources include cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, seaweed, and sardines. You can also supplement with fish oil.


Manage stress: Persistent stress takes a toll on the brain, increasing the risk of dementia. Many studies have linked anxiety with the development of Alzheimer's, especially in people who are already at risk for the disease.

In order to manage stress, relax and have fun daily. Make it a point to keep stress under control by intentionally spending time to relax. Find leisure activities that will relax you and do them – whether it is knitting, taking a walk in the park, yoga, or playtime with your dog.

Practice meditation. Meditation can increase protective tissue in the brain and reduce the hormone cortisol, which has been known to increase the risk of developing dementia.

Laugh more. The act of laughing can help your body fight stress. Socializing, laughing, playing, and being active help to engage the brain and aid in preventing dementia.

Sleep well: It is common for people with Alzheimer's disease to suffer from insomnia and other sleep problems. Research suggests that poor sleep isn't just a symptom of Alzheimer's, but a possible risk factor.

Researchers found that poor, disrupted sleep promotes the buildup of a certain protein in the brain that can lead to impaired memory and Alzheimer's. Getting more deep sleep, then, might be able to clear the protein burden in the brain. Make sleep a priority by establishing a regular sleep schedule. If insomnia is a problem, try exercising, creating a relaxing bedtime ritual, or consulting a doctor.


Signs of dementia:

Dementia affects people differently, and symptoms can vary over time. Some symptoms may appear before memory problems, and others may only occur in later stages. Some signs of dementia include:

Memory loss: Forgetting things, recent events, or old memories

Confusion: Getting lost in familiar places, or being confused about time or place might be indicative of developing dementia.

Difficulty with language: Having trouble finding words, speaking, or understanding can be a symptom of the early stages of dementia.

Trouble with tasks: If one is facing difficulty with common tasks, or handling money and bills, chances are, they are suffering from dementia.

Changes in mood and behavior: Feeling anxious, sad, or angry, or having personality changes indicate developing dementia.

Problems with abstract thinking: Having trouble with directions, understanding numbers, or the flow of time are also signs of dementia.
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