Prevent Dementia Through Good Health Decisions
Once you know your risk factors, the next step involves minimizing or eliminating the risk factors that you have. So what can you do to help prevent
dementia? Good strategies include:
- Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol
- Preventing or managing diabetes
- Not smoking
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Drinking alcohol in moderation
- Eating a well-balanced, heart-healthy diet.
Dementia Prevention Strategies Explained
The following sections explain in detail specific strategies that may help prevent
symptoms of dementia.
Controlling Blood Pressure
People with hypertension often have no
high blood pressure symptoms, so have your blood pressure checked every one to two years. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may suggest you make some lifestyle changes, such as eating less salt (
see DASH Diet) and exercising more. Your doctor may also prescribe medicine to help lower your blood pressure.
Several studies have shown that high
blood pressure medicine reduces the odds of dementia in elderly people with hypertension. One large European study found a 55 percent lower risk of dementia in people over 60 who received drug
treatment for hypertension. These people had a reduced risk of both
Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
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