Woman & Home Feel Good You – September 2019

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HEALTH DEMENTIA

Spotting

the signs

If you’re concerned about

yourself or a friend or family

member, here’s what you should

be looking out for:

 MEMORY LOSS

The most common symptom. Do

you/they easily forget information

you’ve/they’ve just learnt? Lose

track of important dates?

 TROUBLE PLANNING

AND PROBLEM-SOLVING

Do you/they have trouble making

plans and sticking to them? Or find

it tricky to follow a recipe? Is it hard

to concentrate on detailed tasks?

 DAILY TASKS ARE

CHALLENGING

Do you/they have trouble

completing an ordinary task?

 TIMES AND PLACES ARE

CONFUSING

Do you/they become disorientated?

 WORDS AND

CONVERSATIONS ARE

FRUSTRATING

Do you/they struggle to find the

right word or call things by the

wrong name?

 MISPLACING ITEMS

Everyone loses things, but can you/

they retrace your steps? Do you/

they put things in unusual places?

 LAPSE IN JUDGEMENT

Have you/they made mistakes

with money?

 MOOD CHANGES

Do you/they get upset more easily,

feel depressed, scared or anxious?

If you’re worried about any of

these symptoms, book an

appointment with your GP.

 LOOK AFTER YOUR HEART

Whatever is good for your ticker is

also good for your brain. ‘The same

lifestyle rules apply,’ says Dr Brown. ‘Eat

a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and

vegetables, exercise regularly, don’t

smoke and keep your weight, blood

pressure and cholesterol in check.’

 TAKE VITAMIN D

A recent US study found that people

over 60 with vitamin D deficiencies

experience mental decline three

times faster than those who have

sufficient levels. While the best way

to get vitamin D is via the sun, this

can prove difficult during the winter

months in the UK, so consider taking

a supplement.

 GET PHYSICAL

More than one in seven cases of

Alzheimer’s could be prevented

through regular exercise, according to

a report by the Ontario Brain Institute.

Scientists found that physically active

over-65s were about 38% less likely

to develop the disease than those who

did not work out. Aim for at least half

an hour’s exercise, five times a week.

 LOOK AFTER YOUR TEETH

Researchers in California, who

followed nearly 5,500 elderly people

during an 18-year period, found that

those who reported brushing their

teeth less than once a day were up to

65% more likely to develop dementia

than those who brushed daily. It’s

thought the bacteria that cause gum

disease may trigger an immune

response in the brain, which destroys

neurons and brings on symptoms

such as memory loss and confusion.

 STAY CLOSE TO FRIENDS

AND FAMILY

Maintaining social connections

and keeping an active social life is

another good way to stay mentally

stimulated and help prevent

dementia. One study found that lonely

people are twice as likely to develop

Alzheimer’s in later life.

Reducing your risk

Lifestyle is responsible for up to 76% of changes in the ageing of the brain,

according to Age UK. With a few tweaks, you can help protect yours.

Help is at hand

The Alzheimer’s Society reveals what’s

available to make life easier...

VOLUNTEER SERVICE

This pairs volunteers with people living

with dementia to continue doing the things

they love. Visit alzheimers.org.uk.

HANDY GADGET

The Rosebud Reminder Clock, £83.99,

shop.alzheimers.org.uk, has been

developed to help assist people living

with dementia with daily tasks.

THE MEMORY STIMULATOR

Scentscape Set – In the Garden, £22.50,

helps transport people to a time or place,

which can bring back memories.