Raising our dementia IQ
Healthy lifestyles help prevent mental decline.
The Editorial Board
Wed, 04 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT
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Many people underestimate their vulnerability to getting dementia, and many of those who have a justifiable fear of getting the disease resort to quackery rather than healthy behavior.
Those are some of the findings of a new study by the University of Michigan, which found that people don’t know enough about dementia or what can been done, little though it may be. One in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. There is no preventive therapy or a cure.
The only thing we know, based on good studies, is that healthy lifestyles may help prevent mental decline.
So, even though we can’t cure the disease, can’t we as individuals and as society at least do those things that help?
The study, recently published in JAMA Neurology, offers traffic signs and streetlights to point us in the right direction. The study, based on a nationally representative health survey of 1,000 adults aged 50 to 64, found that many may inaccurately estimate their chances for developing dementia and do useless things to prevent it.
Many don’t understand the link between physical health and brain health and how racial differences can affect this risk, the study found. Statistically, black Americans are more likely to develop dementia than other racial or ethnic groups, but those in the survey underrated their exposure.
Those with fair to poor physical health did not accurately perceive that their likelihood of developing dementia was potentially higher than respondents with very good or excellent physical health.
A lot of people who rated their physical health as fair or poor erroneously rated their dementia chances as low. Meanwhile, many who said they were in excellent health thought they were likely to develop the memory robbing disease.
A key finding of the study was that patients were not having enough conversations with doctors. Doctors should take more initiative to explore this topic with their middle age and older patients. The poll noted that properly managing chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, can reduce dementia risk, but few respondents appear to have discussed this with their physicians.
The fact that people are living in denial in many cases is shown by the popularity of what amount to bogus cures: including taking supplements like fish oil and ginkgo.
Mental stimulation helps, but it takes more than doing crossword puzzles. Try mentally challenging activities such as playing chess, taking a class, and reading about unfamiliar topics.
Physically, seniors should engage in regular exercise, a good diet, limited alcohol intake, and should not smoke.
In dealing with illness of which so little is known, organizations and individuals who have a health relationship with seniors should help them become better educated on this issue that affects so many.