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How To Lower Your Chances Of Dementia

You've heard of plenty of people who worked out, added blueberries and salmon to their diet, got a full night's sleep, and avoided the double arches even when they called out from the side of the road.

And still, they got dementia or another disease with age-related mental decline.

What can you do to keep your brain strong as long as possible?

Healthfit.com created these six vital ways to keep your brain strong and healthy.

  • Be fit, be rested: Exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.
  • Reverse your girth: Shed those extra pounds, keep your cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and eat a healthy diet that includes antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Attend to what ails you: Visit your doctor regularly, get preventative care and seek treatment for any medical concerns that arise.
  • Imbibe responsibly: If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation, and don't smoke.
  • Nurture your mind: Keep your brain engaged by seeking new experiences, learning new skills and staying socially active.
  • Yen for zen: Calm your mind, manage your stress, maintain a positive outlook and seek spirituality.

To that list, Dr. Doug Cutler, ND, of Cutler Integrative Medicine in Bingham Farms adds this:

  • Get rid of chronic inflammation
  • Eliminate environmental toxins
  • Manage stress
  • Eat organic foods

With an arsenal of environmental, holistic and naturopathic medicine, Dr. Cutler and his staff aim to detoxify and balance mind and body, lowering the total toxic burden on the body through multiple types of environmental medicine therapies.

And for all those tips about warding off brain decline by taking quizzes, playing crossword, using mind-bending apps, putting together 50,000 puzzles, and/or learning to speak Chinese, Dr. Cutler has a word of advice.

"Find a balance," he said. "What works for one person may not work for another."

According to healthfit, "If you're concerned about keeping your mind sharp and protecting against dementia, you can take stock of your own lifestyle, identify what your personal risks are, and address them. One option is the AARP's Staying Sharp brain health assessment. It takes about 30 minutes to complete, and it offers personalized recommendations (although there is a subscription fee in order to receive the results)."

But also know that as Dr. Kenneth Langa, a University of Michigan professor who studies dementia, recently told NPR: "You can do everything right and still get Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It's a question of trying to change your risk to make it as low as possible."

 

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