(ORDO NEWS) — With age, not only our body changes, but also the brain: some important areas decrease, the number of neural connections decreases, blood supply deteriorates, and inflammatory processes increase.
It is hoped that scientists will find ways to combat this, but for now, it is important to take care of your health and avoid those habits that cause the brain to age faster.
Hearing
A study conducted in 2011 by specialists from the University. Johns Hopkins (USA), revealed a direct link between hearing loss and an increased risk of dementia.
Perhaps, scientists believe, this is due to the fact that hearing loss leads to social isolation, which, in turn, triggers the development of dementia. Be that as it may, it is important to regularly check your hearing and take action in time – otherwise the risk of developing dementia can increase 5 times.
Alcohol
In rodents that were constantly kept in a state of extreme intoxication, the production of nerve cells in the hippocampus – the region of the brain responsible for learning – was reduced by 40%.
The more often and more we drink, the more our memory suffers, as well as the ability to assimilate and process new information.
Heart health
The health of the heart and brain are directly related: the stronger the heart, the more actively it pumps blood, supplying it to the brain as well – and the better its condition, the brain.
Therefore, it is so important to monitor the health of the heart and blood vessels: as a 2017 study in the United States showed, those who suffered from diabetes, heart disease and hypertension developed dementia significantly more often.
Passive lifestyle
Not so long ago, a sedentary lifestyle was added to the list of factors that increase the risk of early death. We become not only less healthy, but also less smart when we start to prefer the sofa and forget about the gym. Want to reduce your risk of dementia by 88%? Start exercising.
Relationships with loved ones
Keeping in touch with friends and family is the most effective way to prevent dementia. The older we get, the more necessary social connections become for us.
Among other things, constant communication with loved ones reduces stress, which is directly related to the development of dementia in old age. Those people who have maintained active social ties at an older age are 44% less likely to suffer from dementia.
Anxiety and disorders
It is important to learn how to relax and deal with stress and anxiety as early as possible. A study published in 2014 in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that people who experience frequent anxiety have a higher risk of rapid cognitive decline—up to 135%! Therefore, learn to meditate and find your own ways to cope with stress – your brain will be very grateful to you.
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