World Alzheimer's Day

Lifestyle and Health

It all starts with a healthy lifestyle. What's good for your heart is also good for your brain. Quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, exercising more, and maintaining a healthy weight are some of the most important steps you can take. Preventing diabetes and controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol are also crucial. These are risk factors that not only cause cardiovascular disease, but can also affect your brain, increasing the risk of dementia.

The risk of dementia is mainly determined by a person's age. As people continue to age, the number of dementia cases worldwide is increasing dramatically. Yet in wealthy countries, we see a slight decrease in the number of new cases of age-related dementia. This is probably because since the 1980s much attention has been paid to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Neuropsychologist and epidemiologist Kay Deckers of Maastricht University emphasizes, "Many people don't realize it, but what's good for the heart and vessels is also good for the brain."

The importance of good eyesight and hearing

Another surprising factor in preventing dementia is your eyesight and hearing. Loss of vision and hearing can increase your risk of dementia. That's why it's important to get your eyes and ears checked in a timely manner. Do you need glasses? Then make sure you wear one. Even if your hearing declines, a hearing aid can help you stay active and engaged in social situations, which in turn is good for your brain.

Social activity and education

Social contacts and mental activity also play a big role in keeping your brain healthy. Stay curious, learn new things and maintain social contacts. Education from a young age is important, but even later in life, staying cognitively and socially active can keep your brain strong.

Clean air and healthy environment

A clean living environment is also important. In fact, air pollution also appears to be a risk factor for dementia. While you can't always influence the air quality in your environment, you can take steps to protect yourself from it. Consider avoiding high-traffic areas while exercising or hiking.

Begin on time

The earlier you start addressing these risk factors, the better. Even later in life, a healthier lifestyle can still have a positive effect, although this is less pronounced as you get older. Research from Maastricht University found that even those in their fifties and sixties can halve their risk of dementia by living healthier. For those in their seventies, the effect is slightly less, and in those in their eighties, there was no effect to measure.

By consciously choosing a healthy lifestyle, getting your eyes and ears checked regularly, and staying active in your social life, you can reduce your risk of dementia. These are simple steps that can make a big difference in the quality of your life.