A good general rule to protect brain health? If a neurologist would not, he probably should not.
About 7 million Americans And more than 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, an umbrella that is used to describe various progressive disorders that affect memory and cognition.
While aging – and some age -related diseases – cannot be avoided, our life options can accelerate or slow the process.
Dr. Salvatore Napoli, a medical director of the New England Neurology and Infusion Centers, told The Post its three Grants No-Nos on its list, as well as some subtle dementia signs to keep your eyes open.
1. Smoking
People who smoke are more likely to deteriorate in gray and white matter, which provides a possible explanation of why 14% of the world cases of Alzheimer’s disease could be attributable to smoking.
When someone smokes, the person’s blood vessel coatings are “bombed” by free radicals, which are electrons that cause cell damage.
This affects not only the heart and the lungs, but also the brain.
While other organs, such as the lungs, can be recovered after a person quit smoking, there are no later increases in the brain volume.
It has long been known that aging is related to a gradual reduction in brain volume and a 2024 study shows that smoking accelerates this process
The study found that those who smoked a package daily were found that decreased brain volume compared to those who never smoked or smoked less than 100 total cigarettes. With each additional year of smoking, the contraction was greater.
2. He directs a sedentary lifestyle
Maintaining is active among our best defenses against dementia according to Napoli.
A recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that regular exercise, even a few thousand steps, is associated with a greater brain volume, which suggests that less exercise is needed than was thought to maintain cognitive function.
When we carry out aerobic exercise, our heart pumps more blood in our brain, carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to keep our brain healthy.
Regular aerobic exercise has also been shown to significantly reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnea, these conditions can affect the brain. Some good exercises for the brain include:
- Walk
- .
- Cycling
- Swimming
People walking around 9,800 steps, around five miles, are 51% less likely to develop dementia than those who do not often walk, found a Harvard study of 2022.
And there is no better time than now to start taking your steps and sweating.
“Put in a good position when you are younger so that things do not catch up when you are older. That is, the good options you make in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s pay dividends in your 60’s and 70’s,” said Napoli.
3. Passing a disappointed or anxious life
“I would never spend my life thinking about,” What will I get … “, said Napoli.” Control the things you can control. It is important to live your life to the fullest. ”
Its advice echoes that other experts say that the prioritization of mental health is essential to prevent dementia, as depressive symptoms can worsen cognitive decrease and deteriorate the quality of life.
In addition, Alzheimer’s Society lists stress as an important trigger for dementia, thanks to the constant release of cortisol, which can cause havoc on memory over time.
What you should Do to protect your brain
In addition to his list, Napoli shared three simple things that people can do to stop or prevent the development of dementia.
They include keeping with doctors’ appointments, taking account of modifiable risk factors such as high blood pressure and driving a healthy active lifestyle that includes a diet rich in whole foods.
“Everyone is different and there is an uniqueness on how each individual can experience cognitive decline. That is why basic foundations are so important: good sleep, regular exercise, reduction of stressors, good family support and socialization,” said Napoli.
Look at these signs
Although many are aware of the main sign warning signs such as memory loss, confusion and concentration of problems, he warned that people should be available to more subtle signs of cognitive decrease.
“It is also a good idea to take into account behavioral changes, such as turning into temperate or impatient,” he said.
When you look at a loved one, you can also notice that they forget to pay the bills, to forget the names of the people, or to start fighting with skills that previously arrived easily.
Napoli said that being aware of these warning signs can lead to early intervention and a more positive prognosis.
“The sooner you can take something, the less damage they accumulate and it will improve the possibilities of curbing the condition. The sooner it intervenes, the less the possibility of accumulation of amyloid and TAU in the brain,” he said.
In terms of treatment, Napoli said there has never been more hopes for patients with dementia.
“We have the opportunity to stop the disease with new therapies, such as Leqembi and Kisunla, and alter the natural history of the condition.”
Napoli points out that diagnostic technologies such as PET scans can lead to previous diagnoses, better care and access to new treatments.
“This provides a gateway for future therapies where we can slow down the disease even more and buy more time to get patients stable enough where we can add therapies that can show the progression of Alzheimer’s even more. This is the arrival of bigger things.”
#neurologist #dementia #signs
Image Source : nypost.com