Dementia isn’t entirely within your control, but addressing these specific habits can help.
Dementia is extremely common.
The condition isnt entirely preventable age, genetics, and environmental influences canall play a role.
But some lifestyle-related risk factors are within your control.
And one of those benefits is lowering your dementia risk.
Obesity, hypertension and diabetes are associated withup to 50% of dementia cases,Dr.
Alvaro Pascual-Leone, a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, told HuffPost.
Dont know where to begin with exercise?
Aerobic, strength training and mind-body exercises can help sharpen your mind, he said.
Work up to at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, five days per week.
As it turns out, its also a risk factor for dementia.
Having limited social engagement and interaction is linked to higher dementia risk,Dr.
Smita Patel, a physician and neuroscientist, told HuffPost.
Beyond protecting your brain, Patel noted that increased social interactioncan help you live longer, too.
Your overall survival rate increases by 50% if you have strong social relationships.
More than 80% of centenarians communicate with a friend or family member daily.
Interactions with families, friends, and neighbors make us who we are, Pascual-Leone said.
These moments not only make us feel good, but they also improve our brain function and overall health.
This can mean calling them on the phone or meeting for tea or coffee.
Next, ask yourself if you feel lonely.
And unfortunately,insomnia only becomes more common as we age.
There is currently is no cure for dementia, Pascual-Leone said.
But there are several lifestyle and activity behaviors everyone can put into action to manage their overall brain health.
In other words, when it comes to dementia, prevention is the best medicine.
If you get started today, your future self will definitely thank you.This article originally appeared onHuffPost.
