January 2016 |

Most people consider memory loss as a part of the human ageing process. However, science differs from this stereotype. Just like any other disease, certain factors can cause Dementia. Deficiency of vitamins, lack of sleep, Mercury intoxications and reduced body activity are some factors that eventually cause damage to our brain and result in memory loss.

Studies in the field of Dementia predict that 10% of 65 year olds, 25% of 75-year-olds and 50 % of 85-year-olds will suffer from the memory loss disease in the coming decades. This problem is quite big for the seniors in our families. You should know how to deal with Dementia so that you can ensure the wellness of your loved ones. I am explaining 5 steps that will reverse Dementia, which most people think cannot be treated.

1. Exercising is crucial.

The most common cause of Dementia is the reduction of body movements as people age. Doing some physical exercise is as important for the brain as it is for the whole body. Physical exercises on a regular basis boosts the memory retention capacity of the brain.

Medical experts advise that even a 30-minute daily walk is sufficient if the elders cannot do strenuous exercises. During exercise, our brain releases chemicals that removes depression, which is one of the contributing factors in Dementia.

2. Mercury Detoxification

Our environment contains heavy metal toxins and these toxins are also present in our body in variable proportions. They get accumulated in our body tissues and cause Dementia. These are some simple tips that can help in detoxifying mercury from the body:

Drink lots of water.
Consume organic cilantro.
Cilantro is simply great for flushing out mercury from the body.

3. Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency

Poor diet not only affects our physical health, but also the health of our brain. Deficiency of Vitamin D and B6 is linked to memory loss because of high levels of amino acids (ex. Homocysteine) which causes our brain to shrink and increases the risk of diseases like Alzheimer and Dementia.

Consuming Vitamin D and Vitamin B6 rich food like Tuna fish, Avocados and Banana can help your elders fulfill their nutritional requirement and keep amino acid levels under check.

4. Yoga and Meditation

Yoga, an ancient fitness regime that originated in India, can work wonders for our brain and is possibly the easiest form of exercise that can be practiced by the elders at home.

Globally, millions of people have experienced the benefits of Yoga and deep meditation. It has helped them gain better control over their minds. Even more, meditation helps our brain to relax and calm our nerves, thereby improving our memory power.

5. Blood Sugar Levels

A high blood sugar level leads to cognitive impairments like Dementia. Those who have Type-2 diabetic and are 60 years and above have a higher risk of developing Dementia. In a recently conducted study, people with higher blood sugar levels were found to have a lower volume in the Hippocampus (a brain region that is essential for memory). Hence, the cause of dementia can be directly linked to the elevated blood glucose.

Maintaining blood sugar levels can go a long way in battling many other ailments other than dementia. Taking care of your diet and indulging in physical activities can help in dealing with high blood sugar levels.

Dementia has become the seventh most common cause of death. You may require assistance from the caregivers to make sure that your elders receive proper treatment. Fighting Dementia is tough, but following the above steps can significantly reduce the chances of getting troubled by the disease and also heal the already done damage to the brain.

With the onset of old age, the social circle of elders begins to shrink comparatively. They visit fewer places and perform fewer tasks, which often leads to depression. Some people feel a sudden change in their life after their spouse’s retirement or their own.

The job or the work they were doing along with the schedule they followed for over 30 to 35 years suddenly gets dissolved. Such changes in the life of elders can have adverse effects on their mental and physical health.

Why, I believe, peer groups can work wonders for the elderly is because of four primary reasons:

1. Peer groups keep them occupied.

By involving themselves with a group of like-minded people, elders can fill the void created by a sudden change in their lives. Peers can get along well and do different activities such as play golf, group readings, and even simple gardening or painting. These activities keep the seniors occupied and prevent idle thoughts from entering their minds.

2. Peers encourage them to pursue a hobby.

Following a hobby with partners of the same age can help them get their competitive streak back. This also gives them an opportunity to interact with people and share their experiences. Psychologists even suggest that this exchange of ideas and experiences keeps their mental health in good state, which also has good influence over their physical health.

3. Peer groups motivate them to maintain themselves.

When in a group, each one of us likes to be appreciated by our peers. This affinity for the appreciation motivates the elders to maintain their health and appearances. Often people require good caregivers to help the elderly at home for assistance in grooming.

This is because, older people tend to ignore their appearances as they fail to find a purpose for getting groomed and maintaining appearances. The elderly can be seen making efforts to look presentable in front of their peers.

4. Peer groups promote a healthy lifestyle.

Most of these groups follow an exercise ritual to maintain their physical health. With the increasing age, people tend to withdraw from doing physical activities, partially due to lack of energy but mostly due to lack of motivation.

While in groups, elders feel the peer pressure and would willingly follow others and perform exercises. It is not the influence of one member of the group over other members, but the influence that the whole group has on each member. Good physical health is highly important for the older adults as the body becomes weak with ageing and needs to be kept well.

Peer group is a great motivation factor for the elderly in maintaining the health of both mind and body. For the older adults, who have fulfilled their social and family responsibilities, these peer groups can give them a new sense of purpose in life.

Monthly Archives: January 2016

5 steps to reverse Dementia as you age