By Aileen Brazeau, co-owner, San Clemente Villas by the Sea
My gerontologist friend, Karen, is so tuned in to the maladies that can lead to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease that she amazes me when she does stuff like point out OTHER maladies that can ALSO lead to memory loss and other behavioral changes.
See what Karen says here….
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We are learning so much about the ailments and diseases that plague us, especially when we are older. Probably at the top of the list that most of us fear is dementia.
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In the past decade or so, with all the baby boomers aging into to their golden years, Alzheimer's and dementia are finally getting the exposure they need to be reckoned with. What we don't often hear about is the heart-to-mind connection.
More people die from heart disease than any other ailment known to man, according to The Heart Foundation. That's enough to scare anyone. What we also need to know is how our heart and circulatory system can also cause us to experience diminished cognitive function.
This type of problem, according to the Alzheimer's Society website is called Vascular Dementia. When our heart and arteries are compromised, blood does not reach the brain cells in an adequate amount, thus the brain cells begin to die.
You might be surprised to hear the Vascular Dementia is second only to Alzheimer's in numbers of sufferers. The symptoms that people with vascular dementia experience include:
- Memory problems
- Anxiety/depression
- Strokes
- Seizures
- Trouble Communicating
- Changes in Behavior
- Hallucinations
- Obsessive compulsions
Problems that can escalate your chances of developing Vascular Dementia are: Type II Diabetes, Heart Problems, High Blood Pressure, and even Sleep Apnea. Lack of physical exercise, a high fat diet, high intakes of alcohol and smoking will also make you at a higher risk of Vascular Dementia.
The good news is that you can guard your heart and circulatory systems by living a healthy lifestyle. When you cut out a portion of fats, get out and move your body daily and keep your weight at a healthy place, you are helping your heart and your mind! Medications are available for many of the cause-related ailments. If you are suddenly having trouble thinking, communicating, or experiencing any of the other symptoms, see your doctor – now!
Exercise and healthy eating are known to help the brain stay healthy and working properly. It's just common sense if we are eating right, getting our daily exercise and keeping our alcohol intake down, we're probably doing pretty well both mentally and physically. We're also less likely to get depressed. It's hard to stay down when you get outside to take a nice walk and see the beauty that surrounds us.
So now you have just one more reason to take care of your heart and your lungs – It can also save your mind and we all know a mind is a terrible thing to waste. For more information on Vascular Dementia, you may go to www.webmd.org www.theheartfoundation.org or www.hopkinsmediciene.org
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Trust what Karen says here. The biggest change you can most easily make is getting more exercise….walking up and down the stairs in your home, or just walking around the block makes a big difference no matter what your age. Guard your mind because you don’t think it, it thinks you! So make it your friend.
