Ways to Decrease Risk of Dementia

Certain diseases can bring about dementia, a condition in which the patient loses brain function. Symptoms are varied and many, including insomnia, disorientation, diminished cognitive skills, impaired recognition, inability to communicate, short- and long-term memory problems and impaired motor skills. Causes of degenerative dementia may be strokes or Alzheimer's disease. For many patients, the risk of developing dementia can be lessened with improved medical care and attention to general lifestyle choices.

Cardiovascular Health

• Patients who suffer hypertension, or high blood pressure, are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia, if the condition is left untreated. The reason may lie in the increased risk of stroke associated with hypertension, and strokes are a leading precursor to dementia. In one study, dementia patients between 79 and 85 years old had been diagnosed with high blood pressure 15 years prior.

  Blood pressure may not be the only vascular factor that leads to a higher risk of dementia. Diabetes and an elevated level of total homocysteine are also prevalent in dementia patients.

Break Bad Habits

• Drinking alcohol and smoking have been shown to increase the risk for developing Alzheimer's. In fact, patients who heavily drink and smoke tend to develop Alzheimer's earlier than those who don't. By smoking two or more packs per day, a person may develop Alzheimer's 2.3 years earlier than a non-smoker. A person who drinks heavily, which is defined as drinking two or more drinks daily, may develop Alzheimer's as much as five years sooner than a non-drinker.

Other Preventable and Treatable Risk Factors

• Other risk factors are more physiological, but they are also treatable and can improve a patient's defense against dementia.

  Low levels of Vitamin B12, for example, can be countered with supplements and injections. Thyroid disease and conditions are easily diagnosed with a simple blood test, and for many patients, the treatment is as simple as daily medication. Infections can also lead to dementia, but with proper and immediate treatment, the risk can be decreased.