Keeping Your Mind Healthy After 65

| Tuesday, February 28, 2012
By Frankie Westengate


When you hit 60 or 65, you could begin to think about dementia, especially if you have a close family member who has, or is, suffering from this illness. The dementia group of diseases, affects memory and can eventually make you rely on other people regarding basic needs. Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep your mind sharp minimizing your risk of dementia.

1. What exactly is Alzheimer's Disease? Alzheimer's is often afforded its own label as a disease when in reality it should be referred to as dementia of the Alzheimer's type. It's the most common form of senile dementia where amyloid plaques, or fragments of protein, cause Alzheimer's when they accumulate among brain cells.

2. What is Vascular Dementia? Even though Vascular dementia can co-exist with Alzheimers, it differs in that vascular dementia results from the destruction of brain tissue when the blood supply becomes reduced or even blocked, often as a result of several large strokes or many little ones. These strokes generally begin after age 70. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetic issues, irregular heart rhythms, high levels of fat in the blood and smoking.

3. What is Lewy body disease? Senile dementia of the Lewy type offers resemblances to Alzheimers and Parkinson's disease. Having said that, it is actually characterized by alpha-synuclein and ubiquitin protein clumps in the nerves of the brain. It's unique from Alzheimer since it's features often include fluctuations in confusion, lucidity, visual hallucinations and Parkinson like tremors and also limb rigidity.

4. What are some of the risk elements for dementia? There are several reasons why some people may be prone to dementia. These include, family history, abnormal amounts of alcohol, hypertension, high levels of LDL cholesterol, diabetic issues, high amounts of estrogen, depression as well as smoking.

5. How can eating properly prevent these illnesses? Eating a healthy well balanced diet will provide our bodies and brain with all the nutrients they need for maximum performance. Choose a diet regime of fish, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, as well as abundant amounts of fresh produce. Always have an assortment of colour on your dish. Avoid trans fats and also saturated fats but incorporate omega-3 fats.

6. How could exercising your brain prevent these ailments? Exercise increases the blood flow to the brain that helps maintain body as well as brain function.

7. How can working out the body prevent these illnesses? The Mayo Clinic reports that early research has shown that regular exercise may produce an enzyme in the brain which helps prevent plaque build up. Aerobic-type exercise also encourages increased blood flow for the brain. You can even enhance your bone mineral density and help support muscle tone by using vibration plate machines.

Dementia isn't a pleasant thought, but you should not overlook the prospect and undertake all you can to prevent it. If you take a positive approach, you will then be carrying out all you can to help avoid dementia.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment