Dementia Prevention

Many researchers believe that prevention of the symptoms collectively known as dementia is possible. At this point, strategies for dementia prevention involve stimulating your brain (with activities such as playing chess) and minimizing, managing, or eliminating risk factors that may increase your chances of developing symptoms of dementia. Risk factors for dementia include having high blood pressure, smoking, and having diabetes. While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be helpful in dementia prevention, long-term use of such medications can cause serious health risks.

 

An Overview of Dementia Prevention

One of the greatest fears that people have as they age is that they will "lose their mind." In fact, many people think that dementia is just part of growing old. The fact is that dementia is not caused by getting older but by a number of conditions that affect the brain (see Causes of Dementia for specific dementia causes).
 
So if it is not part of growing older, can dementia be prevented? Dementia research has revealed a number of factors that may affect a person's chances of developing symptoms of dementia or slow the onset of such symptoms.
 
Based on these factors, dementia prevention strategies include:
 
  • Knowing your dementia risk factors
  • Monitoring your health and making lifestyle changes
  • Stimulating your brain.
 
Other factors that may play a role in preventing dementia include:
 
  • Your education level
  • Reducing inflammation and using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
 
(Dementia Prevention Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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