Taking care of yourself also includes taking care of your brain, and everyday activities and behaviors directly impact your brain health.
Currently, approximately 6.7 million people in the US have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, according to the . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This number is expected to increase to 14 million by 2060.
Therefore, it is important to take steps to reduce your risk. Let us know about some important habits that you might be forgetting and which are harming your memory every day.
1. Not taking multivitamins
Just one gummy or pill a day can help protect your memory. Researchers at Mass General Brigham conducted two studies and found that taking a daily multivitamin supplement had significant memory and cognition benefits in adults ages 60 and older.
The participants’ episodic memory (a type of long-term memory) was improved when they took the multivitamin. The multivitamin slowed cognitive decline by an estimated two years compared with participants who took a placebo.
Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements.
2. Using the wrong cooking oil
Olive oil is delicious and good for your brain. Some antioxidant compounds in olive oil can cross the blood-brain barrier, which is the protective layer of blood vessels in the brain.
Research presented at the American Society for Nutrition concluded that consuming more than half a teaspoon of olive oil per day was associated with a 28% lower risk of fatal dementia, compared with little or no olive oil intake.
So if you are concerned about your memory, using other cooking oils may be a mistake.
3. Assume that your memory will deteriorate
According to researchers, what we think about ourselves can have direct, physical consequences.
A study from Oregon State University says that how we believe we will age actually affects how old we are. People People who have a positive attitude toward aging live longer, on average, past age 50. seven and a half years more Compared to those who don’t.
and thatPredictable health factors, such as whether people will have memory loss at age 50, have a direct impact on their health 40 years down the road.
4. Eating a poor diet
Eating well affects more than just your physical health. It is also linked to the prevention of dementia. There are specific foods that are helpful and others that increase the risk.
Foods associated with a reduced risk of dementia include (but are not limited to) fish, leafy vegetables, strawberries, and nuts. Foods associated with an increased risk of dementia include soft drinks, some popular spices, yogurt, and fried chicken.
5. Not being able to resolve snoring
Loud snoring causes sleepless nights. Snoring may indicate that someone has sleep apnea, a medical condition in which people may stop breathing for a few seconds or longer, dozens of times an hour.
A Study A study presented at the American Academy of Neurology found a link between interrupted breathing during sleep and memory problems. Researchers discovered that people with symptoms of sleep apnea were about 50% more likely to have memory or thinking problems than people without these symptoms.
The Mayo Clinic notes that some Ways to deal with snoring If you are losing weight (if you are overweight), avoid sleeping on your back and avoid alcohol before bed.
6. Not brushing and flossing your teeth
Your dentist isn’t the only professional who wants you to keep your dental hygiene on track. A study published in the journal neurology A link was found between tooth loss and gum disease and shrinkage of the brain’s hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays a role in memory, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Adjusting for age, research participants with mild gum disease and one missing tooth had an increase in brain shrinkage equivalent to about a year of brain aging. Participants with severe gum disease and more than one lost tooth saw a shrinkage equivalent to 1.3 years of aging.
7. Avoiding hearing aids
Hearing aids have more benefits for your health than just improving your hearing.
Aging and cognitive health assessment study in the elderly found that hearing aids can slow cognitive decline Older adults with hearing loss, who are also at risk for memory and other cognitive problems. Auditory intervention slowed cognitive decline by 48% in older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.