Dementia affects more and more people around the world. According to some reports, in our country from 1.3 to 1.8 million people suffer from this terrible disease, and this cannot but worry.
While many of us dream of leading long, healthy and fulfilling lives, unfortunately, later life can often be associated with health problems, with cognitive decline being a major cause of concern for many people.
You may be aware of the common symptoms of dementia, such as memory loss, but this is not always the first and certainly not the only sign that your brain is malfunctioning. In fact, there are some unexpected signs that might indicate a risk of developing dementia that should be looked out for.
Below are five unexpected signs that you may be at risk of senile dementia.
Loss of hearing
Hearing problems occurring in middle age are considered one of the most significant risk factors for dementia. This problem occurs in 9.1% of people who subsequently develop the condition.
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Even mild hearing loss can double the risk of developing dementia, while moderate hearing loss triples the risk, and severe hearing loss increases the risk fivefold.
In order to reduce the likelihood of developing such a terrible disease, make sure you get your hearing tested regularly. If necessary, do not refuse to install a hearing aid, as its use can not only reduce the risk of developing dementia, but in the event that the disease does appear, reduce its impact on your life.
Sleep problems
Research has shown that poor quality sleep may be associated with an increased risk of dementia. Try to improve your sleep patterns by maintaining a consistent rest and wakefulness schedule so that your body gets used to this time and knows when to go to bed and when to wake up.
Try to limit the amount of time you spend with electronic devices before bed, as the blue light emanating from screens suppresses the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Limiting electronic devices before bedtime will not only support your cognitive health, but it will also improve your mood and physical well-being.
Herpes
Herpes is a fairly common disease that often occurs in people closer to old age. It has been found that the occurrence of herpes can be the cause of more than half of all cases of Alzheimer's disease.
Research shows that the virus enters the human brain in middle age, where it remains dormant until it is activated by things like inflammation and infection. This damage can lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Depression or anxiety
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that mental illness may be associated with the development of dementia later in life.
It is not entirely clear whether depression and anxiety are part of the initial symptoms of dementia, or whether having a mental illness increases the risk of developing dementia.
Mental health is not something you can easily fix, but you can take steps to protect it. Non-medical treatments for anxiety, such as mindfulness practice and meditation, can be very effective.
Social isolation
One recent study found that loneliness increased the risk of dementia by forty percent.
Social isolation is a form of stress that can be caused by feeling emotionally disconnected from other people.
Chronic loneliness causes an overproduction of cortisol, a stress hormone in the body that can affect sleep, mood and immunity, problems with which are now also associated with poor brain health and can accelerate cognitive impairment and, as a result, cause senile dementia.
Author: Lyudmila Antonova