Addressing the "D" Word

Michael Z

Michael Z

Senior Member
Location
Northern Wisconsin
As in Dementia. And many, including myself, fear this more than most any other affliction as it is a a one-way ticket to a nursing home. But how to prevent it?

According to US News, here are the tips:
Some healthy habits to incorporate to help reduce your risks of Alzheimer's and dementia include:
I definitely think diet is very big. You are what you eat after all! And a "healthy" diet recommended is the MIND diet, which emphasizes foods like leafy greens, berries, nuts, and fish while limiting butter, cheese, red meat, fried foods, and sweets. For sure, stick to whole foods and I would avoid vegetable oils and rather go with olive oil. And avoid those processed foods, especially snack foods, like poison.

I am convinced that physical activity plays a GREAT role. As we age, our circulation wanes. We have cold feet and hands due to poorer circulation, and also, a brain deprived of the blood flow of our youth. Getting that blood pumping (with medical supervision as needed) is valuable.

The other items, especially getting enough sleep (one way or another) along with stress reduction surely play an important role in our overall health, but by themselves I do not think they can fend off dementia. My Mom is a case in point - she got plenty of sleep and had very little stress. And even her diet was fairly good. But her physical activity dropped off. And I remember her first mental downfalls came during the long winter months when her physical activity was minimal.

And mentally stimulating activities and social connections surely can not hurt and I would guess they would be helpful.
 
Great post, Michael. These are excellent tips for overall good health... but I'm not really convinced that they're deterrents for keeping dementia away. How would anyone know for sure? Not buying it, I'm afraid.

Bottom line for me: Although I've always heard that things like word games, crosswords, etc. are good for preventing dementia, I'd seriously like to see solid stats on that. I don't think accurate case studies would even be possible. An avid crossword puzzle enthusiast doesn't get dementia but how would anyone know that it was a factor? Or for that matter, the same person *does* get it. Most likely the next person who never did mentally stimulating things in their life makes it to 98 without dementia... Call me cynical, but... šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļø

I do think "keeping mentally active" is imperative for good mental health... just not sure about linking it with dementia.
 
I don't believe this ..especially the part about keeping mentally active..

One of the occupations where there's a big prevelence of Dementia related conditions..is in the acting fraternity and also authors...

Both of these occupations require a lot of mental agility...They usually have lots of social interaction, and exercise ... Does it stop them getting Dementia ..no it does not!

Smoking and or drinking heavily maybe some of the cause.. but all of my family from my great grandfather down.. smoked heavily.. no-one got dementia...or any of the AZ related conditions

I do think there's something that's causing it...especially so in young onset dementia.. and it has to be something that wasn't necessarily widely used or consumed when our parents were young....but what... is yet to be discovered...

I still think that it's like any disease of the body if you're prone to having it because you have a certain rogue gene then you'll get it regardless of how healthy a life you lead!
 
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My mother had Alzheimer's. Prior to that, she had trouble getting her blood pressure medication adjusted, and admitted to fainting in her home repeatedly and waking up hours later. Sometimes her BP would dip way too low. I'd rather mine be too high than go through that.
 
hollydolly said:
I don't believe this ..especially the part about keeping mentally active..

One of the occupations where there's a big prevelence of Dementia related conditions..is in the acting fraternity and also authors...

Both of these occupations require a lot of mental agility...They usually have lots of social interaction, and exercise ... Does it stop them getting Dementia ..no it does not!

Smoking and or drinking heavily maybe some of the cause.. but all of my family from my great grandfather down.. smoked heavily.. no-one got dementia...or any of the AZ related conditions

I do think there's something that causing it...especially so in young onset dementia.. and it has to be something that wasn't necessarily widely uses or consumed when our parents were young....but what... is yet to be discovered...

I still think that it's like any disease of the body if you're prone to having it because you have a certain rogue gene then you'll get it regardless of how healthy a life you lead!
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I think you may have a point there about rogue genes.
Perhaps there are also lifestyle factors that may contribute to it.
However, the modern approach that's circulating these days is by no means based in fact- the notion that a huge percentage of people develop dementia as a natural part of aging. That's flat-out bunk.
 
hollydolly said:
I do think there's something that causing it...especially so in young onset dementia.. and it has to be something that wasn't necessarily widely uses or consumed when our parents were young....but what... is yet to be discovered...

I still think that it's like any disease of the body if you're prone to having it because you have a certain rogue gene then you'll get it regardless of how healthy a life you lead!
Click to expand...
I agree. Research studies from around 2 decades ago showed evidence that aluminum and Teflon-coated cookware were top candidates for the cause of dementia. Newer studies point to artificial/synthetic/chemical ingredients in processed food, and others to specific air pollutants.

Impossible to know what studies to trust. But I agree, the cause is something widely used for the past 3 or 4 decades, plus a genetic propensity.
 
Murrmurr said:
I agree. Research studies from around 2 decades ago showed evidence that aluminum and Teflon-coated cookware were top candidates for the cause of dementia. Newer studies point to artificial/synthetic/chemical ingredients in processed food, and others to specific air pollutants.

Impossible to know what studies to trust. But I agree, the cause is something widely used for the past 3 or 4 decades, plus a genetic propensity.
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Absolutely ..and that is along the lines of my thinking too..
 
Murrmurr said:
I agree. Research studies from around 2 decades ago showed evidence that aluminum and Teflon-coated cookware were top candidates for the cause of dementia. Newer studies point to artificial/synthetic/chemical ingredients in processed food, and others to specific air pollutants.

Impossible to know what studies to trust. But I agree, the cause is something widely used for the past 3 or 4 decades, plus a genetic propensity.
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https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers/aluminum-and-alzheimers#is-aluminum-a-cause

https://www.sciencealert.com/is-your-cookware-putting-you-at-risk-of-alzheimers-an-expert-explains

or.. they could admit that they really don't know.. just clutching at one theory after another..
 
I think not enough attention is paid to the type of dementia in question. Re the very common vascular dementia, I think it's essential to follow a heart-healthy plan, lower our intake of saturated fats and fried foods. And get up, move, stretch. Follow a disciplined exercise plan, just an opinion.
Re lewy-body dementia, on the other hand, I understand there is nothing to be done --it's mad cow in human form.
And some forms of dementia may be contagious.
 
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