Innocent habits that can increase risk of dementia - including not being social
There are a number of small habits people may unknowingly do that could increase the risk of dementia.
Dementia is a debilitating condition often caused by Alzheimer's disease which results in loss of memory, language issues, problem-solving and other thinking skills and day-to-day activities.
It's important to keep your mind and body active to help reduce the risk of dementia, but simple habits people do could increase the likelihood of the severe condition. Even though dementia can come from a family history of the disease, as well as health issues and head trauma, lifestyle habits are also a big factor - so avoiding these simple habits could help you in the long run.
Over 35 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with dementia and there is a staggering 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040, and although you can't change genetics, you can make better lifestyle changes. According to Blair Steel, a psychologist at Carrara Treatment, things such as not moving your body enough can be a risk of developing dementia in later years. Exercising - including aerobic movements can help cognitive functions and getting your body moving is a good way to keep healthy and will help decrease the risk of dementia. Blair told the Huffington Post: "Being inactive does a number on the brain. Just like other muscles, a good thing to remember is, If you don’t use it, you lose it."
It's also crucial to keep a social lifestyle. Interacting and socialising with others is important for our minds, and stimulating the brain with the interaction of others will help to relieve stress. Despite being in a social media-savvy world, this doesn't include interacting with others online and Blair stressed that real-life interaction works wonders for our brain.
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Stress is a huge factor in developing dementia and according to the Alzheimer's Society, when we're stressed, the cortisol hormone is released which can cause memory problems - and is linked to dementia. "Particularly chronic stress, on the brain can lead to cognitive decline due to prolonged elevations of cortisol — which plays an important role in how your body responds to stress," the Huffington Post further reported.
It's crucial to make sure we get enough sleep each night to help further reduce the risk, and sleep disturbances can cause "significant health problems" for adults according to Science Direct and Blair suggested avoiding screens and direct light before bed to avoid "interrupted sleep" as bad sleeping patterns in younger years can lead to unhealthy sleep as you get older.
There are other factors to watch out for including excessive amounts of alcohol and an unbalanced diet and consuming a diet of ultra-processed foods can also lead to an increased risk of dementia. Swapping these foods out for leafy greens, berries and wholegrain foods can increase brain health.
It's important to keep good lifestyle habits for a healthy life, but if you are concerned it's always recommended to seek advice from your doctor. More information on dementia and Alzheimer's can be found here.
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