Introduction
As we age, our risk of developing dementia increases. Unfortunately, if you’re over 60, your risk of developing dementia increases even more. But there is something you can do to reduce your risk: watch what you eat. Eating the right foods can help reduce your risk of developing dementia, while eating the wrong foods can increase your risk. In this article, we’ll discuss which foods you should avoid if you’re over 60 and want to reduce your risk of dementia. We’ll also discuss which foods you should eat to help reduce your risk. So if you’re over 60 and want to reduce your risk of dementia, read on to learn more.
If You’re Over 60, This Increases Your Dementia Risk “Bigtime” — Eat This Not That
If you’re over 60, you may be at an increased risk of developing dementia. But there are certain dietary changes you can make to reduce your risk. Here’s what you need to know.
What Increases Your Risk of Dementia?
Research has shown that certain lifestyle factors can increase your risk of developing dementia. These include:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Lack of physical activity
- Poor diet
These factors can all contribute to an increased risk of dementia, but the most important factor is diet. Eating a poor diet can increase your risk of dementia “bigtime,” according to a recent study.
What Should You Eat to Reduce Your Risk?
The study found that eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish can reduce your risk of dementia. Eating foods like nuts, legumes, and olive oil can also help. Avoiding processed and sugary foods is also important.
In addition, the study found that eating a Mediterranean-style diet can reduce your risk of dementia by up to 35%. This type of diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and olive oil, as well as moderate amounts of fish and poultry.
Conclusion
If you’re over 60, you may be at an increased risk of developing dementia. But making certain dietary changes can help reduce your risk. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and olive oil, as well as moderate amounts of fish and poultry, can help reduce your risk of dementia.
Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that can affect a person’s cognition, judgment and, ultimately, their ability to live an independent life. Experts say the biggest risks for dementia are simply getting older—most people with dementia are diagnosed after age 60—and a family history of the disease. But scientists have recently learned more about potential risk factors for dementia, and some of those might surprise you. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
A study recently published in JAMDA: The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine found that the more teeth a person had lost, the greater their risk of developing dementia or cognitive decline. Researchers analyzed multiple studies involving 34,074 people and determined that tooth loss was associated with a 1.48 times greater risk of cognitive decline and a 1.28 times greater risk of dementia. For every tooth lost, a person had a 1.1% greater risk of developing dementia and a 1.4% greater risk of experiencing cognitive decline.
A recent study found that older adults who start losing both vision and hearing are twice as likely to develop dementia as people with only one or neither impairment. “Hearing loss can be an early sign of many conditions, including dementia,” says Dr. Hope Lanter, an audiologist in North Carolina. “Proper hearing care is a vital component to a healthy life, and there are ways to help lessen the risk of losing your hearing.” To protect your ears, limit or avoid noise exposure, and get your hearing tested regularly.
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A study published this spring in the journal Nature Communications found that people over 50 who sleep less than six hours a night are 30% more likely to develop dementia in their later years. “Persistent short sleep duration at age 50, 60, and 70 compared to persistent normal sleep duration was also associated with a 30% increased dementia risk independently of sociodemographic, behavioral, cardiometabolic, and mental health factors,” the researchers wrote. “These findings suggest that short sleep duration in midlife is associated with an increased risk of late-onset dementia.” How much sleep should you be getting? Experts say seven to nine hours a night.
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What does inhaling tobacco smoke have to do with brain health? Plenty. “Among the many health reasons smoking is bad for your body is that it can hinder brain function,” says Dr. Douglas Scharre, a neurologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center who focuses on treating patients with memory problems, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. “One study proved that smoking just one cigarette a day for an extended period can reduce cognitive ability, and smoking 15 cigarettes daily hinders critical thinking and memory by almost 2 percent. When you stop smoking, your brain benefits from increased circulation almost instantly.”
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A study published recently in PLOS Medicine found that a healthy lifestyle—meaning one that follows recommendations about smoking, alcohol consumption, weight, diet and exercise—can lower your risk of cognitive impairment by 55%. And that was true even among people who have an increased genetic risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”Our results, corroborated by other interventional studies on lifestyle modification and cognitive function, support the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout the life course, even among the oldest old,” the researchers wrote. And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.