How To Decrease The Risk of Dementia

Miramont Behavioral Health Center is a trusted facility for teens and adults experiencing an emotional, mental, or psychological crisis. In addition to treating substance use disorder and mental health disorders, our services for adults include short-term, intensive, round-the-clock care for those whose addiction or mental illness may be exacerbated by dementia-related symptoms or Alzheimer’s complications. 

Understanding Dementia & Its Symptoms

Most people are surprised to learn that dementia isn’t a single disease; it’s a term to describe a range of symptoms caused by abnormal brain changes. These abnormalities affect how people think, recall information, remember familiar faces, and function on a day-to-day basis. Dementia negatively impacts an individual’s ability to be independent and compromises the use of higher cognitive skills, such as analysis and critical thinking. All of this culminates into a state of mind that can severely impact how patients act and feel around others.

Another surprising fact is that most dementia cases and problems stem from Alzheimer’s disease. Light bleeding and small blockages in the brain are the second leading cause of dementia, referred to as vascular dementia. It’s also possible that your loved one can have both Alzheimer’s-induced dementia and vascular dementia at the same time. 

The most important takeaway, however, is that dementia is a generalized term that describes abnormalities in memory, thought, and behaviors. It’s an umbrella term that refers to these symptoms:

• Short-term memory lapses
• Regularly misplacing items, such as a wallet or purse 
• Difficulty paying bills or paying them on time
• Difficulty planning, preparing, and remembering to eat meals 
• Problems with remembering and keeping appointments
• Getting lost or confused when traveling outside of familiar areas 

Many people confuse dementia symptoms with the normal declines of the aging process. But while anyone can lose their keys or forget to pay a bill sometimes, dementia-related brain abnormalities are not a normal part of getting older—and if symptoms like the ones listed above occur regularly or start to interfere with quality of life, they shouldn’t be dismissed.   

What Makes Dementia Symptoms Worse?

As a general rule of thumb, people with unhealthy habits are more likely to develop dementia. For example, people who smoke, people who don’t get much physical activity, and people with lifestyles that contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are all much more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, which is the leading cause of dementia. 

Other factors can worsen dementia symptoms and their severity, like medication side effects, stroke or brain injury, hearing loss, substance abuse, infections, and abrupt changes in routine. 

Fortunately, our Middleton, WI, facility is equipped to deal with comorbidity. This means that if you or a loved one is struggling with both addiction and dementia, or bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s, or any other dual diagnoses, we can help. 

How to Prevent, Manage, & Decrease Dementia Development 

Whether you’re hoping to mitigate the symptoms of a current dementia diagnosis for yourself or a loved one—or you have concerns about the onset of Alzheimer’s or the development of dementia in your life, there are simple steps you can take to help:

• Adopt a lifestyle that prioritizes sufficient sleep, physical movement and exercise, nutritious foods, and familiar routines
• Use your favorite memory support tools (for example, calendars or reminders on your smartphone)
• Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption as much as possible
• Manage any high blood pressure issues you may have with your doctor’s guidance
• If you have diabetes, follow your doctor’s recommendations to manage it 
• Get and stay as socially active as possible
• Get your hearing checked regularly

Additionally, one of the best, most helpful actions you can take for yourself or a family member is diving into long-term financial planning and care strategies. If people have support and planning in place before symptoms begin to take over, the transition into assisted living can turn out much smoother. Financial strain, stress, and insecurity may also lighten if planning takes place in advance while the individual still has control over their decisions. 

While no one step is going to eradicate the hardship that comes with dementia, know that your efforts can help much more than you can imagine. Stay strong, and lean on Miramont when you need support. Contact us to learn more