There’s growing awareness about the impact of lifestyle choices such as diet and physical activity on our general well-being. But did you know that some of the common habits we don’t pay attention to could affect the health of our brains? Making some basic lifestyle changes could reduce your risk of getting dementia which is estimated to be the seventh leading cause of death among all diseases in the world. Here are three habits that may be increasing your risk.
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Poor diet
Studies have linked the consumption of high amounts of processed foods to an increased risk of dementia, according to Medical News Today. One such study conducted in France showed that older participants who ate a daily snack high in refined carbohydrates were more likely to develop dementia. Another revealed that how regular consumption of processed meat products such as sausages, salami and bacon, increased dementia risk by 44%.
Sedentary lifestyle
The average adult needs at least 30 minutes of light to moderate exercise or 15 minutes of high intensity workout each day to stay healthy, Hana Burianová, a Professor of Neuroscience working with supplement and wellbeing brand Healthspan tells The Sun. She explained that anything short of this has the potential to make you more prone to getting a dementia diagnosis later in life.
This leads to poor circulation and poor oxygenation, dysregulation of hormones and neurotransmitters, faster ageing and predisposition to dementia.
Inadequate sleep
Ideally, you should be getting a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night. Sleeping for fewer hours could impact your brain’s ability to support your cognitive and emotional functions with age. Dr Burianová explains that to enjoy optimum brain health, you should strive for consistency in your sleep pattern and not wait to sleep in on the weekend.
The brain works on a 24-hour circadian rhythm, which should be consistent, regardless of whether it’s a working day or a Saturday/Sunday. Changing the balance of light and darkness leads to dysregulation of melatonin and cortisol.
Other habits to be aware of include long-term multitasking, mental stagnation, lack of socializing and chronic stress, The Sun writes.
Sources used:
The Sun: I’m a neurologist and here’s the 7 common habits that are ruining your brain
Medical News Today: Dementia and diet: Is there a link?
Harvard Health Publishing: Your risk of dementia: Do lifestyle and genetics matter?
