One of the greatest stories of the 20th century was the dramatic increase in average human life expectancy. Some of us are living into 80s and even late 90s.
One of the greatest stories of the 20th century was the dramatic increase in average human life expectancy. Some of us are living into 80s and even late 90s. Ageing is inevitable, but healthy ageing is not. Longer life can come with a myriad of health challenges such as cognitive decline (dementia).
Cognition is a mental process that includes judgment, language and memory. Among seniors, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of cognitive decline. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse enough to interfere with daily activities. However, a word of caution — mild forgetfulness should not be confused with dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease accompanies advancing age, with a risk of the disease doubling every five years after 65, and increasingly common after 85. Despite significant advancement in knowledge, no cure has been found till date. Can it be prevented Ongoing research has given us some hope. Most experts believe that a healthy lifestyle may help keep the body and brain robust, thus potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline.
Lifestyle choices may include: Healthy diet: Consumption of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables (rich in antioxidants), nuts and fish (high in omega-3 fatty acids), whole grains and low fat dairy.
Physical activity: Light daily physical activity like a 30-minute walk a day for five days a week. Yoga is also a good physical activity as it tends to maintain flexibility. It is also meditative and stress-reducing.
Social interaction: Staying socially connected and mentally engaged maintains the brain’s vitality.
A combination of healthy diet, physical and mental activity and social engagement is more effective in preventing cognitive decline. In addition, maintaining healthy weight, getting adequate sleep, limiting alcohol intake and smoking cessation helps keep the brain robust. Unproven remedies that make claims to prevent ageing can be harmful to health.
In short, embracing a healthy lifestyle may prevent cognitive decline. It’s never too late or too early to act. (Dr. Arun Prabha Jain is an obstetrician and gynecologist)
