Learn different ways to lower your chances.
In honor of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, we sat down with Dementia Connection Specialist, Beth Dunoff to learn about risk factors for developing dementia and what you can do to take action.
Top 5 Risk Factors
- Heart health. Whatever is good for your heart is good for your brain. For example, if you have hypertension or high cholesterol, that will affect your brain health.
- Poor sleep. It's critical to promote sleep, as this is the restorative time for your brain to heal. Waste products and naturally occurring plaque buildup are removed from the brain when you sleep. If you are not getting 6 - 8 hours of sleep, you are putting yourself at higher risk of building up these plaques and garbage in your brain.
- Hearing loss. Make sure your hearing is checked and intact. When there is hearing loss, you are more likely to withdraw from social engagements and more reticent in partaking in conversations. If you don't hear as well, you are likely to isolate, but socialization provides human connection, a basic need for everyone.
- Lack of cognitive challenge. If you are not learning a new skill, picking up a new sport or activity, or challenging your brain in some way, this increases your risk. You can assess your cognitive functioning and find brain games on this website, Cognifit.
- Inactivity. Exercise is so good for your heart and brain. Exercise gets you moving and reduces the risk of falling. Find things you enjoy and get active.
"Knowledge is power, and there are modifiable risk factors -different areas where you can reduce your personal risk for developing dementia later in life."
-Beth Dunoff
Beth is a Clinical Educator for Trinity Health PACE, and she is a Licensed, Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) and Dementia Connection Specialist (DCS) who is passionate about preventing and managing dementia related illness.