A Comprehensive Guide to Reducing Risks and Preventing Dementia

A Comprehensive Guide to Reducing Risks and Preventing Dementia By Esther Heerema, MSW If there was a way you could "buy" extra time and protect your brain from Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, would you do it? For anyone who understands the symptoms of dementia, their answer would be a resounding "YES!" Turns out, there are several methods to achieve brain health that are better than "buying" it, and far more effective, as well.    Here's Why White Matter Matters in Your Brain  Think of the brain like a computer system, and it might be easier to understand. According to the UC Davis Health System, the gray matter (nerve cells) of our brain is the computer and the white matter is the cables that connect everything together and transmit signals. READ NOW A Comprehensive Guide on Reducing Risks and Preventing Dementia  While some risk factors such as age are not changeable, other factors are modifiable. In other words, there are many factors that- if we live in a healthy and wise way- can significantly reduce our risk for developing dementia.  READ NOW What Can Standing on 1 Leg Tell You about Your Brain?  Go ahead and try it. How long can you stand on one leg? Your answer may be predictive of your future brain health.   READ NOW Cardiorespiratory Exercise Helps Preserve Brain's White Matter  In one research study, the scientists found that the brains of older adults showed less white matter. So, when they found that this particular activity reversed this loss of brain cells, they took note.     READ NOW 4 Types of Memory That Everyone Has  Learn more about 4 different kinds of memory, and how Alzheimer's affects each of them.   READ NOW Faith-Based Activities for People Living with Dementia  Holistic health means that we focus on the whole person- not just the medical diagnosis. This includes their spirituality. For some people living with dementia, faith-based activities are very important to effectively meet their spiritual needs.  READ NOW Advertisement READ THESE NEXT Understanding Insomnia Understanding Asthma Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Understanding Type 2 Diabetes Understanding Lung Cancer 5 Great Harry Potter Board Games 15 Questions About Behaviorism You Should Be Able to Answer 10 Skills That Prepare Teens for Employment AN ABOUT.COM BRAND You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Alzheimer's & Dementia newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 © 2016 Verywell.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.