Food & Dementia Prevention

Dementia is not a disease, but rather a word to describe a set of symptoms that impair brain function. People with dementia may have memory loss, confusion, personality changes, hallucinations and emotional outbursts. Dementia has many causes, and there is no surefire way to prevent it. But because several of those causes are diet-related, eating and drinking smart can help you reduce your risk.

Watch Your Alcohol

• Drink in moderation. According to the Mayo Clinic, moderate alcohol use--one drink a day for women, two for men--may actually protect you. But abuse of alcohol can increase your risk. Examples of a standard drink include a 12-ounce beer, a four-ounce glass of red wine or a drink with one ounce of 80-proof liquor.

Count Your Cholesterol

• Keep a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. When your low-density lipoprotein ("bad" cholesterol) gets too high, it accumulates on the walls of your blood vessels. This is a condition called atherosclerosis, and it greatly increases your chances of developing vascular dementia because it inhibits blood flow to the brain. Research has also linked atherosclerosis to Alzheimer's disease.

Blood Pressure

• Keep your blood pressure at a normal level. According to the Mayo Clinic, high blood pressure (hypertension) and low blood pressure (hypotension) can increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. A diet to maintain good blood pressure includes lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and low-sodium foods.