Is Dementia Avoidable?

Dementia is losing your mind, that is, your mind slipping away. Dementia is not part of growing old: only about 7-8 percent of older people experience severe intellectual impairment and memory loss.

However, dementia does occur in certain individuals, especially as they continue to grow old. So, what are the causes of dementia?

(1) Genetic factor may play a pivotal part in the development of dementia. If you do have a family history of dementia, then you should take extra care of your brain.

(2) Dysfunctional thyroid may cause dementia. Fortunately, this type of dementia is treatable and reversible.

(3) Stroke may cause dementia. In fact, vascular dementia is the 2nd most common type of dementia. Hardening of the arteries may result in poor circulation, depriving the brain of oxygen and nutrients, leading to brain damage. Eat a healthy diet is the way to go; what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.

(4) Depression, especially among the elderly, may lead to memory loss, confusion, and impaired mental function and coordination. However, scientists cannot determine whether depression causes dementia, or it is the result of dementia, because their symptoms may be quite similar.

(5) Other factors that may affect brain health include: excess alcohol consumption; brain damage due to injury or dehydration; sensory deprivation (the cause of sundowning, which is acute confusion occurring late in the day or at night); drug abuse, especially those anesthetic agents, narcotic analgesics, and benzodiazepines.

The good news is that numerous conditions associated with dementia or memory loss are treatable, if the conditions causing the delirium are adequately addressed, such as deficiency of vitamin B12, depression, and autoimmune diseases. However, when these conditions remain untreated for more than six months to a year, clinical studies have shown that the prognosis for recovery may become slim, as the damage to the brain may have become permanent.

Therefore, it is important to maintain brain health at all times. After all, the brain is one of the most important body organs, since it controls what you think as well as what you do. For more information on brain health, visit my blog: Increase Mind Power.

The human brain is made up trillions of brain cells. Only 10 percent of these brains cells have been utilized over one's lifetime, and there is still a great deal that one can tap into. Yes, you can even train your brain to become smarter at any age.

Total Recall: Keep your mind razor sharp well into old age. Re-grow your dead brain cells, and rejuvenate your failing health from inside out. It has everything you need to deal with dementia and aging.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau