How to Protect the Mind From Dementia

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting Corrier-journal.comactivities

Here is a dementia music activity

eHow

The number of people suffering from dementia is on the rise. The Alzheimer's Association reported that, as of July 2009, more than 5.3 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. Dementia is a progressive mental decline that has many causes This condition affects thinking, memory, communication and behavior. Protect your mind from dementia by employing practices that are good for your health.

Step 1Get a physical exam from your doctor each year. If you notice any change in your thinking ability, have an exam as soon as possible.. Some kinds of dementia can be treated or reversed.

Step 2Avoid habits known to be bad for your health, such as smoking or drinking excessively.

Step 3Exercise your body at least one hour, three times a week. In a special report titled "Guarding Your Memory" published in May 2009 by Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Sam Wang said exercise is most important for protecting the brain and guarding memory.

Step 4Follow a healthy diet. According to a study published in the August 12, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, eating a Mediterranean-style diet and engaging in higher levels of exercise are independently associated with reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.

Step 5Keep your brain active. For instance, do crossword puzzles, play board games, read a book or magazine, use the computer, solve brain-teasers, write a story or work on difficult math problems. Try different activities that are mentally challenging.

Step 6Engage in social activity. The January 20, 2009, issue of Neurology reported that people who go to parties and other social events are at a lower risk of developing dementia than those who regularly stay home

Step 7Take good care of your teeth and gums. Scientists from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, found that gum disease also can influence brain function by causing inflammation. This study was published in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Step 8Consider taking....read all of How to Protect the Mind From Dementia