Summary of the essential facts about preventing dementia

Some decline in memory and cognitive function with age is normal. Reversal of dementia
is very difficult, only partially successful or impossible after it is well established,
so prevention through measures that preserve brain health is crucial.
These measures improve all aspects of health and also protect against age-related
cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, and the vascular causes of dementia:

• Adhere to the guidelines of the Lifestyle Checklist.
• Consider testing for ApoE4 and other genes that heighten risk.
• Be physically active, the more vigorous, the better (40% lower risk).
• Take on hard and challenging mental work.
• Avoid cardiovascular disease risk factors, high blood pressure, high LDL-Cholesterol.
• Consume a whole food plant-based (Ornish or Mediterranean or MIND) diet.
• Prevent insulin resistance and diabetes (50% increased risk).
• Avoid overweight and obesity.
• Limit alcohol, better yet to avoid brain damage don’t drink any amount of
alcohol .
• Do not use mind-altering drugs they are brain-damaging.
• Do not smoke (50% to 80% increased risk).
• Manage depression and anxiety.
• Get enough sleep.
• Stay socially connected.
• Protect your head from injury.
• Rule out vitamin B12 deficiency, stress and other reversible causes of dementia
• Do not rely on brain training to avoid cognitive decline.
• No known dietary supplement improves cognition and brain health, save your
money.

This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel.