How to reduce your risk of dementia

Our brain health has a significant impact on the quality of our lives. Did you know that one in seven adults are diagnosed with dementia?

Alzheimer’s disease, which causes problems with memory, thinking, language and behaviour, is the most common form of dementia. Your diet, your social life and your physical activity levels all play a role in preserving brain health and your likelihood of developing cognitive impairment as you age.

Here are 13 ways you can reduce the risk of developing dementia:

1. Manage your blood pressure – High blood pressure (hypertension) can reduce the blood flow to your brain causing cognitive impairment.
2. Control cholesterol – too much bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) can clog your arties and cause a stroke.
3. Reduce your blood sugar – Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with an increased risk of dementia.
4. Increase physical activity – regular exercise can improve your cardiovascular health and reduce your risk of developing dementia by about 30%.
5. Change your diet – limit foods with high saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. Eating plans such as the Mediterranean diet (plant-based foods) have been shown to improve brain health and reduce health risks.
6. Weight loss, if necessary – Obesity is one of the most common risks of Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Quit smoking – Studies show that smokers have a higher risk of developing dementia compared to non-smokers.
8. Reduce alcohol consumption – excessive long-term alcohol use is associated with moderate cognitive impairment, as well as liver and heart disease.
9. Treat sleep disorders – Insomnia and sleep apnea are conditions which result in poor sleep quality, leading to cognitive decline over the years.
10. Stay social – attending regular social events is important for your mental health and cognitive abilities.
11. Wear a hearing aid – research shows that if you suffer from hearing loss, wearing a hearing aid may improve your memory.
12. Seek help for depression – depression increases your risk of developing dementia as you age.
13. Continue to learn – Learning something new every day can improve your cognitive reserve, helping with your memory, concentration and wit as you grow older. The earlier you start, the better.

The CPAP Clinic has a network of 40 clinics nationwide, and works in partnership with Centurion Healthcare, a Respiratory & Sleep Specialist clinic group to provide comprehensive sleep care including:

1. Respiratory & Sleep Specialist consultation – face-to-face and telehealth available
2. Sleep studies – in-lab, home and contactless sleep studies available. Bulk billing available for specialist telehealth consultations as well as sleep studies. Medicare criteria apply. Call 1300 76 29 39 or email info@thecpapclinic.com.au for more information.