Take our Resilience Test

Find a therapist near me

Many of the ailments that befall us are shaped by how we choose to live moment to moment.

The most profound approach to total health is cultivating a life that is engaged and purposeful.

Sustain relationships. Expand your horizons.

If for some reason you are concerned with slipping into dementia, is there anything you can do now to avoid this fate? What are the risk factors and what builds resilience?

To be clear, dementia is not a single disease like diabetes, but rather an umbrella term that encompasses a range of symptoms characterized by a decline in short-term memory, cognitive abilities, and language skills. This leads to increasing difficulties in the performance of normal daily routines. Of all the dementias, Alzheimer’s disease constitutes approximately 60% to 80% of cases. Currently, about 6.7 million Americans and 600,000 Canadians aged 65 and older are affected. It is projected that by 2050, this number will double.

Roughly 40% of dementia cases worldwide are linked to predisposing influences that can, at least in principle, be modified. These include limited education, hearing loss, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes, social isolation, and exposure to air pollution. Other factors that we have little control over but once present can be successfully treated are stroke, heart failure, and depression.

Keeping Your Brain Fit

Now for the good news. Here are my 10 no-nonsense rules that, if observed with some regularity, can significantly contribute to a healthy mind in a healthy body.

Protect your brain from injuries.

Get sufficient sleep.

Your living space matters.

Treat all illnesses promptly.

Learn to deal with stress

Because of space........

© Psychology Today