Reduce your chances of getting dementia

1 in 9 people over 65 have dementia.

It is the 6th leading cause of death and causes infinite suffering for both the person affected and their caregivers.

How can I reduce my chances of developing dementia?

1- Heart head connection- studies show that risk factors for heart disease and dementia are the same. So take control of your diabetes, lose weight and stop smoking, get your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.

2- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body weigh.

3- Eat right. DASH diet and Mediterranean diet may reduce your risk of dementia( look at my other blogs).

4- Prevent head injury- football players and boxers with repeated concussions have higher risk of developing dementia.

5-Sleep well- not getting enough sleep due to insomnia or sleep apnea can increase chances of dementia. Aim for an average of 8 hours of sleep per day.

6- Stay socially engaged.

7-Challenge your brain regularly. Play games, puzzles, read, learn new skills.

8- If you have depression get treated.