Reducing Dementia Risks, Part II

In our first installment of this two part series, we discussed 3 tips on how to reduce the risk of developing dementia.  This installment continues on that topic with 3 additional tips:
4. Alcohol in moderation
You knew this one was going to pop up, didn’t you?  There are a host of dangers associated with drinking too much, and dementia can be added to the risks. Surprisingly, alcohol abuse is the second leading cause of adult dementia in Western countries! Men consuming six drinks daily and women who have four drinks daily place themselves at a higher risk of developing dementia.
5. Spend More Time with Friends and Reduce Stress
An active social life is linked to longevity, happiness,and good health, but it also associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. Experts are not clear about the reason for this, but there appear to be definite benefits!  And, it’s fun.
6. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep and dreams have been fascinating research topics for years. While much is understood about sleep, much of it remains a mystery.  For instance, we still don’t have a concrete answer as to what dreams really are. We do have a pretty good picture of what happens to people who don’t get enough sleep though. In the short term, sleep deprivation can change your mood, decrease reaction time, and make you more prone to simple mistakes.  Going without sleep for 24 hours or more can lead to hallucinations and other signs of mental distress. Even modest disruptions to sleep cycles could be linked to Alzheimer’s.  Studies have shown that when older people sleep poorly, it can prevent them from “storing” memories and lead to dementia symptoms.  Bottom line, get some rest.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!