One of the habits that can increase your risk of developing dementia by four times is the habit of skipping your breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Having a nutritious and healthy meal in the morning can help you concentrate and keep you active all day long.
How Does Your Breakfast Habit Affect Your Brain Health? Studies have shown that a diet high in sugar and processed foods can lead to inflammation in the brain, which can accelerate cognitive decline and increase the risk of dementia.
The risk: a lack of regular physical activity can increase your risk of heart disease, becoming overweight or obese, and type 2 diabetes, which are all linked to a higher risk of dementia. Older adults who do not exercise are also more likely to have problems with memory or thinking (known as cognitive ability).
The dementia risk was 69% greater for individuals who slept over 8 hours, versus 7-8 hours. The risk was also twice as high for those who went to sleep before 9:00 p.m., versus 10:00 p.m. or later.
Here are the top worst offenders: Processed meats & cheeses: Foods like bacon, ham, and meats from the deli counter contain nitrosamines. Nitrates cause increased fats in the liver, which can be toxic for the brain. Excessive consumption of processed meats can also increase the risk of dementia.
What are the foods that fight memory loss? Berries, fish, and leafy green vegetables are 3 of the best foods that fight memory loss. There's a mountain of evidence showing they support and protect brain health.
Sleep on your side to boost brain power
Concerned about your brain health? Side sleeping could help keep you sharp and possibly reduce your dementia risk.
These two new studies show that the harmful effects of inadequate sleep can start at age 50 (if not earlier), and they can lead to early dementia and death. But the good news is that you can reduce your risk of dementia by simply giving yourself six to eight hours of sleep each night.
Administration: The examiner reads a list of 5 words at a rate of one per second, giving the following instructions: “This is a memory test. I am going to read a list of words that you will have to remember now and later on. Listen carefully. When I am through, tell me as many words as you can remember.
The Mini-Cog test.
A third test, known as the Mini-Cog, takes 2 to 4 minutes to administer and involves asking patients to recall three words after drawing a picture of a clock. If a patient shows no difficulties recalling the words, it is inferred that he or she does not have dementia.
These habits are being active, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, keeping normal blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, and having low blood sugar.
People who regularly eat a lot of highly processed foods and drinks like cheeseburgers, chips, fried chicken, sausage, pizza, biscuits and sugary sodas are at increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new report.
Best Foods for Preventing Dementia
Food that are rich in carotenoids include carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, tomatoes, papaya, apricots, and leafy greens such as spinach and kale.
Melatonin might help improve sleep and reduce sundowning in people with dementia. Provide proper light. Bright light therapy in the evening can lessen sleep-wake cycle disturbances in people with dementia.
Many people affected by dementia are concerned that they may inherit or pass on dementia. The majority of dementia is not inherited by children and grandchildren. In rarer types of dementia there may be a strong genetic link, but these are only a tiny proportion of overall cases of dementia.
A healthy sleep routine can help the person with dementia to feel better, be less confused, be more co-ordinated and have more energy in the daytime.
Physical activity. Doing regular physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia. It's good for your heart, circulation, weight and mental wellbeing. You might find it difficult to start being more physically active, or worry it means doing an activity you don't enjoy.
We found that home supine sleep position was independently associated with neurodegenerative disease.
As a result, side sleeping is the best way to sleep for your brain. According to research, the brain's glymphatic system is almost completely dormant during the day and most active while you sleep. While a person sleeps, the canals that form their brain's glymphatic system increase by around 60%.
Research shows that the best brain foods are the same ones that protect your heart and blood vessels, including the following: Green, leafy vegetables. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene.