Dementia is the leading cause of death in Australia and as the population ages, it is inevitable that the incidence will continue to rise.
Dementia is not a single disease process. It is a term for a number of different conditions where there is a progressive decline in brain function that is distinct from the normal process of ageing.
Dementia types
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive neurodegenerative condition characterised by gradual loss of short- and long-term memory, thought processes, and the ability to perform basic daily tasks.
Lewy body dementia is the second-most common type of dementia. Protein deposits called Lewy bodies develop in the brain, affecting thought processes, memory and movement. There is a relationship with Parkinson’s disease. Drugs used to treat Parkinsonism can improve tremors and stiffness but do not prevent the inevitable progression of dementia.
What can we do?
This is where living in a retirement village can be beneficial.
A healthy, balanced diet is good for brain health and every other part of the body and can be achieved in retirement living.
If nothing else, regular physical exercise is good for bone mass, muscle mass, falls prevention and mental health. Retirement villages have gymnasiums, pickleball courts, bowling greens and residents who want to go on daily walks.
There is much to be gained by keeping socially active for mental health and brain health. Humans are social animals and the maintenance of friendships and community activities is good for your neurons (brain cells) too. Retirement villages create a community, led by the residents, but more villages are starting to look at wellness.
There is much excitement about maintaining neuroplasticity, i.e. doing things that require your brain to make and maintain new connections between individual neurons, whether that be doing puzzles or learning new skills such as woodworking, painting, drawing or building. If nothing else, getting out and being part of a tribe and developing new hobbies is the stuff of life. It seems to be good for your brain, too. This is all possible in retirement villages and land lease communities.
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water, and treat mental health conditions promptly to maintain brain health.
Prevention of vascular dementia is achievable. Avoiding smoking, bringing your weight into the healthy range, screening for hypertension (high blood pressure) and treating it when elevated, screening for hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol) and treating it when present, and screening for diabetes and managing it, are all important in prevention of stroke, heart attack and peripheral vascular disease. The things that prevent damage to the coronary arteries and the carotid arteries also prevent damage to the blood vessels supplying the brain.
Complete the free online CogDrisk assessment, click here. It is not a diagnostic tool, it provides an opportunity for the motivated individual to think of ways they could reduce their personal risk of dementia. It might be a prompt to see where your GP might be able to help.
Even early diagnosis is not without its own value. It allows for treatment of modifiable risk factors (e.g. vascular disease) but also arranging support and planning, whether that be optimising access to home care, proximity to family and loved ones, or estate and financial planning.