DEMENTIA | THE ROLE OF DIET IN THE PREVENTION OF DEMENTIA

Dementia refers to a range of symptoms which include memory loss and impaired cognitive capacity beyond what might be expected due to ageing per se. Dementia is a common condition in the ageing population and the risk of its development increases with age. Dementia affects 1 in 50 people aged 65-70 years and 1 in 5 people over the age of 80. The two most common forms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Symptoms of dementia

Symptoms of dementia vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:

Memory loss
Difficulties with thinking
Difficulties with problem-solving
Impaired language capacity
Changes in mood or behaviour

Contributing factors to dementia

Multiple factors are believed to contribute to dementia. These include:

Genetic factors
Smoking
Alcohol and drug abuse
Diet
Stress
Raised blood-pressure
Mid-life obesity
History of stroke

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Is there a protective diet?

The food that we eat has the power to promote our brain health. On the other hand consuming an unhealthy diet, particularly consumption of unhealthy fats and refined sugars, can have detrimental effects on the health of our brain cells.

A diet that has been created to contain “brain cell protective nutrients” is the MIND diet. This diet is composed of foods such as:

Green leafy vegetables
Nuts
Berries
Beans
Whole grains
Seafood
Poultry
Olive oil
And moderate wine

This diet lacks 5 food categories which are considered unhealthy in terms of brain health. These are:

Red meats
Butter and stick margarine
Cheese
Pastries and sweets
Fried/fast food

Consumption of such a diet has been shown in scientific studies to help prevent/ delay the progression of dementia.

As obesity and high-blood pressure increase the risk of dementia, weight loss and management of high-blood pressure, through making appropriate dietary changes, can also help with prevention of dementia.

How can our services support you?

Our Dietician can provide you with a diet that contains foods known to promote brain health, and support you through your weight loss if you are overweight/obese. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, she can also help you manage your blood pressure through making changes in your dietary habit.