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Dementia impacts the lives of more than 50 million people worldwide, with 10 million new cases each year. If family history or other factors put you at risk of cognitive impairment, preventive care is the best way to avoid a decline in mental ability. Below are steps you can take to keep your mind sharp well into old age. 

Do:

Start juicing. 

Drinking more raw fruit and vegetable juices each week should be part of your preventive care plan for both the mental and physical health benefits it provides. Berries, spinach, and apples are examples of antioxidant foods that contain polyphenols. These nutrients boost cognitive function.

Continue to flex your mental muscle.

Aumsville-Sublimity-Stayton-Oregon-preventative-careParticipating in stimulating activities is like giving your brain a workout. Instead of zoning out in front of the TV during your downtime, try solving crossword puzzles or download brain-teaser apps on your smartphone. To broaden your skills, you can also attempt to learn a foreign language. Doing so could slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by four years. Additionally, social interactions with other people can also help keep your mind active.

Don’t:

Smoke.

Smoking doesn’t only increase the risk of developing certain cancers; it can also lead to long-turn cognitive impairment. Toxins in cigarette smoke cause oxidative stress, which can affect the brain. Smoking also compromises the vascular system, increasing your odds of developing vascular dementia. Quitting the habit is the best way to protect your overall health. 

Drink alcohol in excess. 

Heavy drinking can also have long-term consequences. Consuming large quantities of alcohol over a number of years can shrink brain tissue and damage nerve cells, resulting in alcohol-related brain damage. Symptoms of the illness mirror those associated with dementia. To prevent mental deterioration, limit your consumption of alcohol to less than 14 units a week.  

 

For more preventive care advice to maintain your cognitive ability, reach out to the trained physicians and nurses at Santiam Hospital. With branches in the Mid-Willamette Valley area and Stayton, the hospital system uses diagnostic imaging and other cutting-edge medical advancements to deliver the best care to Oregon residents. To learn more about preventive care services, visit the website. Call (503) 769-2175 to schedule a doctor’s appointment today.

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