How to Defer or Prevent the Pain of Dementia

The age effect. Many years ago my Dad was talking to a farmer in Jamestown, Australia. “Alan,” the farmer said, “The seventies were a breeze, but the eighties are tough.” He was referring to health challenges in general.

People over the age of 80 have a one in six chance of developing dementia. In 2020, Alzheimer’s Journals reported that one-third of people aged 85 or older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

What is dementia? Dementia is a general term that refers to a group of diseases and illnesses that affect a person’s memory, thinking, reasoning, personality, mood, and behavior. The decline in mental function can interfere with daily activities of living.

What about Prevagen? At the Albuquerque dance club, I overheard two dancers talking about Prevagen, an over-the-counter memory pill. One said the ads were rubbish – that it didn’t work. The other woman asked me what I thought. I said I’d read about it and the tests that showed cognitive improvement seemed to be valid.

After this, I thought I’d better try Prevagen – I’ve been taking it for almost three months. I can say, as a scientist, that certain words like “mango” and “Sedona” that had eluded my memory for about three years, now come up when I want them to. I can speak better because I stumble less about missing words like these. My self-confidence has improved a lot as a result. Prevagen works for me.

Dementia is a horrible disease. Most older people have run into it one way or another. They have it. Or their spouse has it, and they get to care for their spouse. Or they know someone who has it and lives alone, which is the toughest trial. Dementia manifests itself in multiple ways, and a patient’s mood and behavior can change suddenly. Fortunately, there are books about caring for dementia patients that are very helpful.

Preventive steps. A new study says half of all dementia cases can be delayed or prevented if certain habits are adopted (Time.com/health-matters, or Time Magazine, August 26, 2024):
1. Socialize. Keep different brain functions active. Talk to lots of different people about different topics.
2. Physical activity. Regular exercise can lower your risk of dementia by 30%. Just move in ways that are comfortable for you, but do it every day.
3. Treat depression. People with untreated depression have a greater risk for dementia.
4. Lower your usual health risk factors. These include weight, blood pressure, diabetes risk, bad cholesterol which all have ties to dementia risk. Eat more nutritious foods.
5. Don’t smoke or drink. Science suggests less drinking means a better brain.
6. Wear a hearing aid. Remove your cataracts. Struggling with hearing and seeing can worsen cognitive decline.
7. Avoid falling and head injuries. Even one head injury in a lifetime can increase cognitive decline.

Why I dance. I belong to a dance club, mainly country western, ballroom, and western swing. The organizer, Susan, told me a few years ago that dancing is great because it helps with muscle exercise, brain – body coordination, mental activity, and social connections. All things that defer or help prevent dementia.

Why I play pickleball. A new study evaluated all sports like jogging, swimming, tennis, and pickleball. These were evaluated on overall body-brain health welfare. Would you believe it – pickleball came out on top. Pickleball is another means for preventing or deferring dementia. And it’s perfect for older folks who no longer can run around a tennis court or jog around the park. If you are thinking of starting the game, be careful for there are a lot of injuries like wrist and shoulder hurts, and the danger of falling is ever-present. But on the positive side, it’s an addictive game. I’ve been playing twice a week for 5 years.

May peace and charity guide you this month.

The Gray Nomad.

Out of my distress I called upon the Lord and he answered me and set me free.
The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do to me?
It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
[Psalm 118].