There are currently 85.000 people in British Columbia living with dementia, many of whom are dealing with Alzheimer’s – one of the most common types of dementia. Jennifer Lyle, the CEO of the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C., said that the number just keeps on growing. At this rate, society expects that the number of people dealing with dementia will get closer to 250,000 by 2050.
Not all is lost, even if you’ve already been diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimer’s – many tricks are being used to combat memory loss and keep the mind as sharp as possible, for as long as possible.
Brain games
Brain games are the number one tool for people who want to keep their minds young and sharp. Before the era of modern technological advancements, training your brain implied using puzzles or crosswords to keep the mind engaged. While those are still perfectly good methods to use, Canadians interested in other, more modern activities can leverage them to stimulate memory and focus, and they don’t even have to leave their homes for many of them.
With online shopping, language learning, and gaming websites such as mahjong365.com being available at all times, health-conscious people can log in, play, enjoy a smooth game, and get some brain-boosting benefits. If online experiences aren’t your cup of tea, there’s always the option of taking a live photography course, learning how to play an instrument, or enrolling in a language course – anything that will fire up your brain cells and keep your mind active.
Lots of friends
Studies show that loneliness and isolation can lead to depression. Moreover, isolation and a lack of social connections can also result in a decline in brain and cognitive health, which is something that older adults are at particular risk of. That’s why engaging in regular socializing is crucial for people who want to have the best shot of avoiding memory loss related to aging and dementia.
This doesn’t imply a complete character change for introverts – you don’t have to spend all of your time making friends if that’s not something you’re comfortable with. Even having a few good friends with whom you’ll have an occasional phone call or a video chat will provide the desired memory-boosting effects, which stem from experiencing a plethora of emotions like compassion, love, and trust.
Bonus points if you gather the group from time to time and play memory-boosting games together.
Get your ZZZs
We all want to live our lives to the fullest, which oftentimes doesn’t leave enough room for sleep during the day. But if you want to keep your brain healthy, hitting a certain number of hours of sleep per night is going to be vital. While we sleep, cerebrospinal fluid clears the brain of toxic waste, and many of those toxins are related to Alzheimer’s disease.
And you shouldn’t just aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, either, as you need good quality sleep that’s deep and restful – the kind of sleep that usually happens between 10 PM and 2 AM.
The bottom line
While diseases like Alzheimer’s are impossible to prevent and eradicate, there’s a lot a person can do to delay the symptoms. Engaging in brain-boosting activities is only one of them, as all the other elements of your life—such as nutrition and regular exercise—need to be on point. Don’t forget that spending quality time with a selected few can have incredible health benefits, which, coupled with other lifestyle factors, will provide the optimal environment for prolonged brain health.