We all know that there are certain things about our lifestyle that can lead to either positive or negative health outcomes later on in life. For example, smoking cigarettes is something that we all know is bad for us. Smoking increases the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and long term disability. Quitting smoking can have a positive impact on our health in as short as a few hours after the last cigarette. We might not be able to immediately feel the impact that a lifestyle change might have right away, but science shows us that it’s there.
Lifestyle changes can also be helpful when it comes to mental and cognitive health. A recent study revealed that lifestyle changes might be a lot more effective at helping to prevent dementia from occurring than what was once thought. The study indicated that people aged 69 and older who engaged in six or more leisure activities per week had a higher cognitive score than those who participated in four or fewer leisure activities per week.
Activity helps brains stay active. The more active someone is, the less likely that it’s being influenced by dementia. However, activity looks like it might also help to prevent dementia from occurring, according to this study.
Researchers also looked at educational level. Those who had some sort of higher education tended to be less likely to develop dementia later on in life than those that did not extend their learning past high school. This translated into the workplace, too. Those that had upper level positions and had advanced their career over the courses of their professional lives tended to be healthier when it came to cognitive scores. The researchers believe that this growth helps the brain to stay active and continue to be active, even if the individual isn’t sitting in the classroom or actively seeking out new educational opportunities.
This research comes from the University College London. They looked at the genes and lifestyles of over 1,100 people. They published their findings in the medical journal, Neurology.
If you have a loved one that is suffering from dementia, it’s important to know that the right care might be able to make things a little bit easier. Memory care is a special type of senior care, designed to efficiently meet the needs of people suffering from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.
In-home care doesn’t guarantee an active lifestyle. However, it does help someone to live their life the way that they have been. If someone is already trying to be active, in-home care can help to ensure that there are none of the changes that come along with relocating.
We’re here if you’d like to learn about how in-home care can help. We offer free consultations designed to help ensure that the people we work with have everything that they need to get the most out of care. So, whether you’re looking for a new care service, or you’re brand new to the world of care, please feel free to get in touch. One of our professionals would be happy to talk with you in more depth.
Leave a Reply