Is there still no good treatment for dementia? Doctor: Do these "5 things" to have a chance of prevention
Is there still no good treatment for dementia? Is this kind of dementia caused by malnutrition?
Recently, a 72-year-old female went to the hospital for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination due to symptoms such as unsteady walking and memory loss. The results showed that the “hippocampus” in her brain was atrophied and the cortex was thinning. The doctor diagnosed him with “dementia”. Dr. Lai Junhao, director of the Department of Neurology at Losheng Sanatorium of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, pointed out that dementia is not a normal aging phenomenon, but a syndrome caused by degenerative brain lesions.
Dr. Lai Junhao explained that the course of dementia is slow and there is still no good treatment. Dementia is clinically divided into three major types, including:
Degenerative dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, etc.
Vascular dementia, caused by stroke or chronic cerebrovascular disease.
Other causes of dementia, such as nutritional disorders, intracranial lesions, metabolic abnormalities, central nervous system infections, drug side effects, etc.
Dr. Lai Junhao said that with the aging of the global population, one person will suffer from dementia every 3 seconds. There are currently 55 million dementia patients in the world. According to WHO statistics, the global costs related to dementia reached US$1.3 trillion in 2019 and are expected to increase to US$1.7 trillion by 2030. Dementia not only places a heavy burden on families and society, but also requires long-term care for patients, and the associated costs are considerable.
How to reduce the risk of dementia? Doctor: Do these “5 things” to have a chance of prevention
Dr. Lai Junhao pointed out that although there is currently no complete cure for dementia, people can still prevent and delay the onset of dementia through the “5 essentials and 4 precautions” in their daily lives:
5 things
Brainstorm: Research shows that engaging in mental activities or creative activities that stimulate brain function can reduce the risk of dementia, with the relative risk reduced by nearly 50%. For example: stay curious, get in touch with new things, take courses, learn new knowledge, read books, newspapers and magazines, etc.
Exercise more: Engage in regular exercise more than twice a week, which has a protective effect on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and the relative risk is reduced by nearly 60%. For example: walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, gym, calisthenics, aerobics, yoga, etc.
Participate in more social activities: Research shows that participating in more social activities can reduce the risk of dementia, with a relative risk reduction of 40%. For example: participating in class reunions, charity societies, community activities, religious activities, volunteering, playing cards, etc.
Maintain a balanced diet: daily food intake can refer to: 2-3.5 bowls of whole grains and roots, 4-6 servings of beans, fish, meat and eggs, 1.5 cups of low-fat dairy, 3-4 servings of vegetables, 2-3.5 servings of fruits Servings, fats and nuts and seeds: 3-5 teaspoons of fats and 1 serving of nuts and seeds.
Maintain an appropriate weight: Obese people in middle age (BMI ≧ 30) have a three-fold increase in the relative risk of Alzheimer’s disease, overweight people (BMI between 25-30) have a two-fold increase, and those in old age have a three-fold increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Being thin (BMI <18) also increases the risk of dementia. Recommendation: The elderly should not be too thin and maintain a healthy posture (18.5≦BMI<24).
4 defenses
Prevent the three highs (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia): Blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and other diseases will increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Previous studies have shown that diabetes can cause memory or cognitive decline; those with systolic blood pressure greater than 160 mmHg and untreated have a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease that is five times higher than those with normal blood pressure.
Prevent smoking addiction: Smoking is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, with the relative risk nearly doubling, while quitting smoking can reduce the risk. Studies have shown that smokers who continue to smoke experience faster cognitive decline every year.
Prevent head trauma: Severe head trauma is a risk factor for dementia. People who have suffered serious brain injuries have a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease that is more than four times that of the general population. Therefore, people should avoid the chance of head injury.
Prevent depression: People who have suffered from depression have a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease that is approximately twice that of people without a history of depression.
Dr. Lai Junhao reminded that the prevention and treatment of dementia is a long road. The patients themselves should face it bravely, and their families should also provide support. If you have symptoms such as changes in temperament, repeated questioning, memory loss, etc., you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Through brain imaging examinations (such as CT, MRI) and blood tests, early detection can be made to facilitate diagnosis, and early mental rescue can be carried out to improve the degeneration. and delay the progression of the disease.
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