Neurologists reveal 5 tasks they do daily to keep their risk of dementia lown— they are quite easy

Many illnesses and body conditions become inevitable as we age and also because of our genetics. However, our bodies give us ample signs, allowing us to manage our health better by taking certain precautions. For something like dementia that turns the lives of elderly people upside down, making changes to one’s lifestyle beforehand massively impacts the effect. A study revealed that there are chances of a billion people being diagnosed with dementia by the year 2060. A major cause that affects the same can be chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure, per Huff Post.

Considering these details, neurologists have revealed five tasks they do daily to keep their risk of being diagnosed with dementia low. Neurologist Meredith Bock told the publication, “We estimate that about 40% of cases of dementia are preventable through lifestyle and other factors.” She added, “There’s certainly a benefit to lifestyle interventions, both at reducing the time of onset of dementia or potentially getting it at all.”

1. Keep moving 

Dr. Gabriel Leger, a neurologist at UC San Diego Health, pointed out that he is big on doing some activity even while he’s at work. This is as simple as walking from one space to another, getting up and out of the desk in between working schedules and so on. “If I’m not with patients, I’m more likely to stand up and go across the building to speak to somebody instead of sending an email just because it gets me off the chair and makes me more active,” Leger said.

2. Not keeping in-person connections at bay

Leger stresses the need to socialize with people as much as possible. He mentioned that socialization and connections stimulate the brain as much as education does. “When you have a typical conversation, there are a lot of different cognitive domains you may be drawing on, comprehending language, speaking, following a story, and a lot of behavioral aspects, socio-emotional cues that you’re picking up on and responding to," Bokc noted. "Social interactions are also just really good for mood, which is also closely related to cognition."

3. Being a good pet parent

Caring for your pet is more important for your health than theirs. The interaction, responsibility and even something as simple as walks help lower the risk of dementia. “You have a responsibility and are maintaining the sense that ‘there’s something that I need to do—I need to feed my dog, I need to make sure that they’re well,’ It’s a bit like parenting, where that sense of purpose is kept.”

4. Ensure you eat healthy

“It’s not quirky but I try to stay away from highly processed foods and try to eat organic food as much as possible. That’s not possible for everybody but I do believe that pesticides, herbicides and highly processed foods are associated with elements that can stress the brain. That can increase the risk of dementia,” Leger said. Opt for fresher produce and thorough washing of fruits and veggies before consumption. 

5. The magic of olive oil

Dr. Gustavo Roman, a neurologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, highlighted that he takes a spoonful of olive oil with his breakfast. There are several blood vessels in the brain and if these are affected, the increased chances of dementia are concerning. Olive oil, a part of the Mediterranean diet, is reportedly said to decrease the risk of dementia. “It (Olive oil) should be from the current year’s harvest, it shouldn’t have a very long shelf life and its bottle should be black, dark green or brown or metallic because the oil is very sensitive to light," he informed the readers.