Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1482386
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 OCTOBER 2022 5 ELDERLY CARE JAMES CUMMINGS ACCORDING to the World Health Organisation, an esti- mated 55 million people around the world are currently living with dementia, a disease that has profound implications for both its sufferers and their loved ones. Marked by a decline in memory, poor judgement and reduced dexterity, dementia is an under- standably frightening prospect for any family, and one that any of us should strive to avoid at all costs. While an effective treatment for dementia is yet to be dis- covered, there are, nonetheless, various things we can do to re- duce our risk of acquiring the disease, while at the same time improving our overall health. Risk factors First, it is worth mentioning things which are not, despite popular belief, seen as deter- ministic in developing de- mentia. Old age, in itself, for example, is not a precursor to the disease, with many people around the world retaining full use of their mental faculties throughout later life. However, it is true that as de- mentia tends to mainly exhibit in patients at an older age, it is arguably one of the primary conditions that may provide fertile ground for the disease to take hold. Contrary to common belief, genes are also not considered, on their own, the root cause of the condition — though a genetic predisposition, when stressed by environmental factors, may lead to the emer- gence of dementia. Similar to age, genes do play a factor, but the precise relationship be- tween genetics and the man- ifestation of the disease is not fully understood. Aside from these noted above, there are several risk factors associated with dementia, all of which, luckily, we are able to take steps to reduce. De- pression is a condition that can cause significant mental and physical damage, particularly if left untreated. This can be exacerbated by factors such as social isolation and loneliness — factors which have also been linked with de- mentia. Various physical fac- tors can also play a part, with possible culprits including a lack of physical activity, a poor diet and increased blood pres- sure. Mitigating risk The good news is that there are many things we can do to reduce our risk of dementia — things that, in addition, pro- vide long-lasting holistic bene- fits to our physical and mental wellbeing. Diet is increasingly seen as an important part of the discus- sion around prevention, with much of the advice given to those wishing to avoid other health issues such as diabetes, for example, relevant to de- mentia. Typically, diets high in sugar, salt and saturated fat, while low in fibre, can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol. With an increasing amount of data drawing attention to the seemingly strong links between cardiovascular health and mental health, adopting a diet that is low in sugar, salt and saturated fats — in the case of the latter, supplementing these with healthier options such as the fats found in oily fish and avocados — and increasing one's intake of fibre, can prove beneficial. Physical activity is known to improve health in numerous ways, including reducing blood pressure, increasing immune response and boosting chem- icals in the brain associated with improved mental health, such as serotonin and dopa- mine. Obesity is considered a risk factor for dementia, so improv- ing one's physical wellbeing is a good way of avoiding many potential health problems, in- cluding dementia. Smoking and excessive drink- ing are considered significant risk factors for dementia, with each of these also exacerbat- ing other health issues noted above. Drinking in excess of fourteen units of alcohol per week is considered damaging to one's health, with excessive drinking increasing one's risk of stroke, cancer and heart disease, as well as damaging the brain and other parts of the nervous sys- tem. While drinking in modera- tion may be possible as part of a healthy lifestyle, any form of smoking, however, is consid- ered hugely damaging to one's health and should be avoided. Smoking, in particular, can constrict blood vessels and lead to increased blood pressure, in addition to its many known impacts on the respiratory and digestive systems. Lowering risk While no one factor alone may be responsible for the on- set of dementia, just as, against good intuition, the disease may manifest in patients considered at low risk, there are, nonethe- less, numerous steps we can take to lower our risk of devel- oping the condition. While factors including ge- netics cannot be changed, by adopting a healthier diet, exer- cising regularly, quitting smok- ing and paying attention to our mental health, we can reduce our risk of developing demen- tia and better enable ourselves to live fuller, richer lives into our twilight years. Taking steps to reduce the risk of dementia With dementia set to become a rising problem worldwide over the following decades, we examine the various risk factors associated with the disease and how to try and avoid them While an effective treatment for dementia is yet to be discovered, there are, nonetheless, various things we can do to reduce our risk