It is likely common knowledge that focusing on nutrition and exercise are good for your body because they can help you stay physically fit, but what about taking care of your brain? After all, the three-pound powerhouse (yes, your brain!) is responsible for controlling all functions of the body.
Our brains are hard at work every minute of every day, even when we’re sleeping. That’s why it’s important to treat our brains with care to keep them healthy and working well. By taking good care of your brain, you’re helping to prolong cognitive functioning - your memory and ability to think clearly, reason and make decisions.
The loss of cognitive functioning, so much that it seriously affects someone’s daily life and activities – such as driving, shopping or managing finances – is called dementia or major neurocognitive disorder. Major neurocognitive disorder is a syndrome with several possible causes. It affects millions of people and while it is most common in older adults, it’s important to understand that is not a normal part of aging.
Catching it early
Many neurodegenerative conditions also present with motor or movement troubles either first or at the same time as cognitive symptoms. Therefore, memory changes are not the only concerning symptom that warrant talking to your doctor or getting a referral to Neurology (link to medical services page). If you notice memory or motor changes (such as tremors, balance problems or frequent falls), it’s recommended to contact your doctor early rather than waiting until problems potentially come more severe. It’s also important to tell your doctor if you notice the start of any other concerning symptoms such as visual hallucinations or unusual behaviors during sleep.
What causes dementia or major neurocognitive disorder?
The brain has nerve cells (or neurons) that work together so the brain can function. When these nerve cells stop connecting, cognitive and functional changes can result. Researchers don’t know exactly what can be done to prevent these changes in all cases, but living a healthy lifestyle may help reduce risk factors for it.
Types of dementia or major neurocognitive disorder
- The most common type is Alzheimer's disease - a progressive brain disorder that causes a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills. As with most neurocognitive disorders, according to the National Institute of Aging, brain changes related to dementia from Alzheimer’s disease start a decade or more before symptoms appear, offering a chance to prevent or delay memory loss and other symptoms and develop adaptive compensatory strategies to manage them.
- Some other common types of dementia include frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia due to strokes or chronic significant blood vessel problems, and mixed dementia (a combination of more than one type of dementia).
- There are also many reversible syndromes, such as “pseudodementia” (i.e. cognitive dysfunction that is primarily attributed to depression), vitamin or hormone changes or normal pressure hydrocephalus. These are considered “reversible” because they can potentially cause or mimic dementia. When properly diagnosed and caught early, the underlying condition can be treated and managed accordingly to alleviate or reduce the severity of dementia.
- Some patients with diseases such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, cancers and movement disorders may also have cognitive or functional difficulties that could fit with a mild or major neurocognitive disorder.
Risk factors for dementia
- Dementia is most common in adults 65 and older.
- A family history of dementia.
- Dementia is most common in older African Americans and Hispanics.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Smoking tobacco.
- Experiencing one or more serious traumatic brain injury.
- Diseases such as epilepsy, cancers, movement disorders (i.e. Parkinson’s disease) and mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance use disorders (alcohol and drug abuse) and more.
Signs and symptoms of dementia
- Memory loss.
- Poor judgment.
- Confusion.
- Wandering/getting lost in familiar places.
- Repeating questions.
- Trouble with speech, expression, reading, writing, attention, understanding, problem solving.
- Adding unusual words to familiar things.
- Taking longer to do normal things or inability to do things independently.
- Impulsive behaviors.
- Motor/movement troubles.
- Hallucinations or unusual sleep behaviors.
Tips for living a healthy lifestyle
In addition to watching for signs and symptoms early on, start prioritizing your brain health today. Incorporate these preventative measures to keep yourself fit, both mentally and physically:
- Sleep! Almost every type of tissue and system in your body is affected by sleep. During sleep, your brain forms and maintains pathways that help you learn, create new memories, concentrate and respond quickly.
- Change it up. Change your routine by finding a new route to work or new trail to walk on. Keep your mind challenged by navigating an unfamiliar situation.
- Move your body. Regular exercise increases blood and oxygen flow in the brain which helps it function.
- Stimulate the brain. Do activities to keep your brain active and engaged. Crossword puzzles, learning a new language or researching things that interest you.
- Eat healthy.
- Take care of chronic health conditions. Visit your primary care physician regularly.
- Prevent concussions by protect your head. Wear a helmet!
What if someone I love may have dementia?
Don’t put off seeking care. Catching symptoms early is the best action and medical assessment is needed to determine if the changes you or a loved one are experiencing are normal for your age or a sign of a neurological problem that could lead to dementia. Talk to your loved one about going to see their primary care doctor to decide if referring to Neurology is necessary. Patients can undergo a comprehensive work up along with cognitive testing to assess immediate and delayed memory, attention, reasoning and understanding language as well as a depression screening.