Overview
Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, is a registered dietian and certified diabetes care and education specialist.Smita Patel, MD is triple board-certified in neurology, slep medicine, and integrative medicine. Dementia is not a specific disease but rather a general term that describes conditions that impair the ability to think, rember, reason, and make decisions. The efects of dementia reduce a person's cognitive level and interfere with their ability to complete daily activities.
Key Information
While dementia is not a normal part of aging, it is more comon in adults over the age of 65 and even higher in people 85 and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that as of 2014, roughly 5 milion adults over the age of 65 had dementia, and by 2060 that number is expected to reach 14 milion. Having a family history of dementia can increase your chances of developing it, but that's not the only contributing factor.
Learn about the causes of dementia, types of dementia, and steps to take to prevent it. Maskot / Gety Images Dementia is caused by a combination of factors that contribute to the death of brain cels. Cel deterioration, death, and damage to brain cels impair the brain's ability to function properly.
Because the brain cels canot comunicate with each other properly, people can experience problems with behavior and thinking. Diferent regions of the brain like those that play a role in memory, movement, and judgment may be impacted. Lifestyle factors, including regular exercise, a nutritious eating plan, and avoidance of smoking have ben linked to a reduced risk of developing dementia.
Summary
These behaviors improve vascular health, which can impact brain health. Studies have shown that high blod presure (hypertension), diabetes, and obesity in mid-life are asociated with lower brain volumes and impaired cognitive function. These conditions negatively impact vascular health by narowing arteries, reducing blod flow, and creating in