| Dementia refers to symptoms caused by the | | | | after 60 years. It is currently estimated that over 6 |
| deterioration of the brain. Dementia is usually | | | | million people in the US have dementia. |
| diagnosed when two or more symptoms indicating | | | | Can Dementia be prevented? |
| loss of brain function are detected. Memory loss, | | | | Dementia is not a normal part of the aging process |
| behavioural problems, hallucinations, inability to reason | | | | and people can live into their 90s without any |
| or think clearly, personality changes, agitation, | | | | dementia symptoms. |
| disorientation, loss of language skills, perception and | | | | There are several steps that can be taken to |
| cognition are all common symptoms. | | | | prevent or delay dementia |
| Damage to brain cells can be caused by a number of | | | | - Challenge the brain with mentally stimulating |
| factors including Alzheimers disease which is the most | | | | activities such as crossword puzzles, searching the |
| common cause of dementia. Vascular disease | | | | internet, learning a new language, learning to play a |
| generally caused by a stroke, heart attack, high blood | | | | musical instrument and social interaction. |
| pressure and vascular disease. Lewy body dementia | | | | - Lower cholesterol |
| caused by abnormal structures in the brain's nerve | | | | - Lower blood sugar levels |
| cells. Dementia can also be caused by HIV-associated | | | | - Control blood pressure levels |
| disease, Huntingtons disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob | | | | - Control inflammation |
| disease and Boxer's syndrome. | | | | - Taking herbal supplements such as Turmeric and |
| According to a report recently published in the journal | | | | Bacopa can help prevent dementia. Dr. Susanne |
| "Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders" and | | | | Sorensen, Head of Research of Alzheimer's Society |
| funded by the National Institutes of Health, factors | | | | stated that "Indian communities that regularly eat |
| such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking | | | | curcumin have a surprisingly low incidence of |
| and diabetes also increased the risk of dementia in | | | | Alzheimer's disease...a cheap accessible and safe |
| later life. | | | | treatment could transform the quality of life of |
| About 1% of adults over the age of 60 get | | | | thousands of people with the condition. |
| dementia and its frequency doubles every five years | | | | |