“Use it or lose” it commonly refers to the importance of exercising your body and staying fit. Exercising your brain is equally important. Your brain needs regular training, especially as you get old. After 65, his risk of developing in approximately every five years.
Dementia is not a disease. It is a collection of symptoms resulting from damaged brain cells caused by other diseases. These cells affect their memory, personality and decision -making skills. Brain damage can occur due to a head injury, stroke or disease, such as Alzheimer’s dementia (no. 1 dementia shape). Other diseases, such as non -controlled type 2 diabetes, can cause another form of dementia known as vascular dementia (the second most common form of the condition). Vascular dementia is caused by a poor blood supply to the brain. It also affects memory, personality and decision -making skills.
While some forms of dementia cannot be cured and brain damage cannot be reversed, research shows that maintaining your active brain with activity, a healthy diet and physical exercise can help delay the start of dementia. It can also help prevent brain damage caused by injuries or diseases. The sooner the brain training activity begins, the better the benefits will be.
Way to the best health
If he is healthy and under 65, stimulating his brain with activities and games can keep his mind strong later in life (unless he develops a disease related to dementia or has a stroke or head injury). If you currently have any form of dementia, brain games and “active mind” can still help.
There are many online games and applications available to play on the computer, your cell phone or tablet. Some are free and others require a unique or monthly rate. Do not forget the benefits of playing simple board games, such as ladies, chess, game games or a puzzle. Other puzzle games, such as sudoku and crosswords, are also challenging, are often found in their local newspaper.
While you are looking for games and applications online, look for activities that establish your short-term memory, listening, attention, language, logic, reaction time, hand-work coordination, literacy and visual and special skills. Consider adding brain training activities that apply to your daily life. For example:
- Write a task list and then memorize it.
- Listen to a new song and write some of the lyrics.
- Draw a map from your home to the library.
- Investigate a new topic
Other ways to challenge your brain include:
- Changing the way you do something. If you are right -handed and stir your coffee with that hand, trying to stir with your left hand.
- Read a book about how to do it.
- Learn a new language.
- Try a new trade or hobby.
- Learn to play a musical instrument.
- Take a class at your local university or community center.
It is also important to complement your brain activity with a healthy lifestyle.
- Keep a healthy and healthy coma.
- Move with physical exercise.
- Do not smoke.
- Limit your alcohol.
- Sleep adequate.
- Do everything possible to avoid injuries.
- Lower your stress.
- Follow your doctor’s orders to administer your diseases and conditions.
- Grant in activities that support your mental health.
- Keep an active social life regularly with friends, volunteers or joining a club.
Things to consider
Brain training and lifestyle changes can be overwhelming. Do not try to change everything at once. Start slowly choosing a brain game. If you can add more, that is even better. If you are bored with the same game, choose another to stay active. Do not give up. Change your daily housing routine as well. For example, if you always brush your teeth and then comb your hair, try to reverse your routine. Do the same with your healthy life. Change a fried food for the grill version. Add five minutes to your exercise routine. Schedule your annual health and health exams. Make an appointment with a friend.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that brain training and lifestyle changes prevent all forms of dementia. It will not heal certain forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, it can improve the dementia that is directly linked to the disease (such as non -controlled type 2 diabetes) managing the disease with healthy medicine and life.
Dementia can be difficult to detect on your own. Often, a family member or a close friend is needed to notice changes. Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to determine pros and cons detection of the doctor for dementia, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Certain medications and depression may be linked to memory loss.
It is important to keep in mind that depression in the elderly is often similar to dementia for others, so it is essential to support their mental health.
When to see your doctor
Do not worry about occasional memory loss. That is normal. However, the loss of memory related to dementia worsens over time and progresses at a faster rate. The signs that you or a loved one may be suffering from dementia can include:
- Recent event or information memory loss. This could be remarkable if you or a loved one repeat the same question and cannot remember the answer.
- Forget how to perform family tasks, such as driving, cooking or bathing
- Language problems, how not to use the correct word
- Do not remember how to make a family place or how you got there
- Bad judgment for simple things, how to wear a different shoe on each foot
- Inability to think abstractly, how to understand the purpose of money
- Lose things and find them in strange places, such as putting clothes in the refrigerator
- Changes of mood and personality who can turn a person generally happy into an angry and gross person or a safe person in a fearful and suspicious person.
- Loss of interest in things that once imported, such as time with friends and family or hobbies
- Difficulty
Questions to ask your doctor
- How many hours a day should I spend playing brain games?
- Should I worry if I perform badly in the brain games? Is that an early dementia indication?
- What does it mean if I get tired after playing?
- How can I know if playing brain games is making a difference?
- Is it better to play brain games on your own or with a partner?
- How can I know if my memory problems are normal aging versus dementia?
Resources
Alzheimer’s Association: Brain Health
