Preventing Cognitive Decline

As we get older, our ability to think and multitask is much slower in comparison to when we were younger. Despite how healthy or smart we are, almost all of us will be able to detect our minds slowing by the time we turn 50. However, there are ways we can prevent cognitive decline now and maintain our cognitive ability throughout our lives.

Types of Cognitive Decline

Cognitive decline has three categories: normal cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment (M.C.I.), and dementia. Besides the exception of cognitive decline due to drugs and depression, the decline cannot be reversed.

M.C.I. is more serious than normal cognitive decline because of the noticeable short-term memory loss and difficulty articulating thought and multitasking. Although it is more serious than normal cognitive decline, M.C.I. does not receive as much public attention as does normal cognitive decline or dementia.

In a recent New York Times blog, “The New Old Age: Caring and Coping,” one post noted, “About half of people with this condition go on to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia within five years.”

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for about 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association website.

Whether one is experiencing normal age-related cognitive decline or a form of dementia, the underlying reason is that the brain’s neurons are not functioning as effectively as in the past.

Treatment and Prevention

There is an upside to the fight against cognitive decline. Lifestyle choices we can make at a young age can delay the decline and sometimes reverse it.

In a famous Alzheimer’s study, nuns who stayed mentally engaged with activities like playing games, reading and learning a new language were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Physical exercise also helps to keep the brain fit. It improves blood circulation and helps defend against diseases like cardiovascular disease which can lead to cognitive decline.

People who smoke are also advised to quit because it fills the body with toxins that harm the mind and damage cells, potentially causing cardiovascular disease.

Another way to support brain health is to follow a healthy diet, such as a Mediterranean diet that is high in seafood and low in saturated fat. Fatty acids, however, are beneficial, and they include legumes, nuts, and lean meats. Nutrients, including vitamins E and B12, are also important to cognition and a healthy brain.

In the treatment of dementia, science and medicine are making progress, but for those affected, the progress is not fast enough. Today, the standard treatment for dementia is cholinesterase inhibitors that help maintain the level of chemicals that are essential to memory and judgment. Some patients are finding improvement with these drugs, but not all.

An individual’s commitment to a healthy and active life provides a greater potential for maintaining brain function during the aging process. In the absence of a cure for dementia, it is vitally important to make the right health and lifestyle choices early on.

Steve Bernardi, R.Ph. is a compounding pharmacist and co-owner of Johnson Compounding and Wellness in Waltham.