Dementia is a set of symptoms associated with a progressive decline in cognitive abilities. Its symptoms vary from person to person, but can include problems with memory, language, judgment, behavior, etc. It can be caused by various conditions. Alcohol consumption, for example, is the first complaint.
The Mirror reveals in his article of May 6, 2024 that it is not only excessive alcohol consumption that is harmful to the brain. According to a study published in 2022, a small glass of alcohol can have a major impact on the brain. Just one pint of beer or wine a day can prematurely age the brain by two years. Long-term lack of sleep can also be a potential cause of dementia.
Risk of dementia: loneliness and coffee
Prolonged loneliness also causes dementia. Research has shown that the brains of healthy adults who feel lonely have a high level of cortical amyloid – marker used in the diagnosis of dementia. Doctor Walton, quoted by The Mirrorsaid : “there is strong evidence that loneliness is linked to faster brain aging“.
Attending concerts, where you are exposed to high levels of noise, also increases the risk of dementia just like listening to music with headphones. Nutritional Neuroscience also revealed that coffee consumption would also cause abnormal brain aging, as well as memory problems.
Risk of dementia: lack of physical exercise
It is essential to closely monitor your vascular health. According to Doctor Beanland, poor cardiovascular health is a risk factor for brain diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. According to Alzheimer Societyby doing regular physical exercise, you reduce the risk of developing dementia by 28%.
However, note that playing contact sports can also increase this risk. 10 years after head trauma in people aged over 50, we observe increased risk of dementia. The risk is increased tenfold by the number of head injuries.
Risk of dementia: the risks with junk food and lack of education
Although not all scientists agree, junk food is also believed to be the cause ofincreased risk of dementia. “There is evidence that adopting a Mediterranean type diet may reduce the risk of developing memory and thinking problems and some forms of dementia“, explains Doctor Beanland.
As incredible as it may seem, lack of education can also be the cause of dementia. Cognitive decline is more or less significant depending on the type of education one received. Unsurprisingly, the eleventh habit that can cause dementia is stressful work, which reportedly shrinks the brain.
Seemingly harmless habits: digital dementia
Our modern society is currently dominated by digital technology. We scroll on our screens for several hours a day. There “digital dementia“is presented in the form of”short-term memory problems, forgetfulness, difficulty remembering words and problems related toperforming multiple tasks at a time“, mentioned The Mirror.
A 2023 study found that more than four hours of screen time per day increases the risk of dementia. And finally, there is smoking. “Smoking increases the risk of develop dementia”. According to some experts, “approximately 14% of dementia cases worldwide are attributable to smoking“.
