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Dementia

How to Prevent Dementia

Kim Trevey on Aug 1, 2022
How to prevent dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

We all want the magic bullet, the secret pill, or the precise formula that will prevent us from getting certain diseases. Cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease—you probably know someone who’s had these, or perhaps you have yourself. We understand how difficult and painful they can be. So, naturally, we want to know how to avoid them or how our loved ones can.

Studies on Alzheimer’s and dementia prevention have significantly increased in recent years. While research once focused more on the disease itself and its effects on the brain and body, researchers are now dedicating more time to studying if and how dementia can be prevented.

While they haven’t discovered a magic bullet, secret pill or formula, they have found evidence that certain interventions can reduce your risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

How can I reduce my risk of getting dementia?

First, it’s important to understand the term dementia. Dementia is not a disease in and of itself but rather a word that describes a group of symptoms related to neurodegeneration, which is a deterioration of cells in the brain.

Symptoms of dementia include memory loss; difficulty with reasoning or judgment; changes in thinking skills, language and behavior, and a decrease in the ability to focus.

Dementia typically comes with aging, but it is not a normal part of aging.

Several conditions can cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common type of dementia and, therefore, where most preventative research is focused.

In 2017, a committee from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) gathered to review the most up-to-date research and data on dementia and cognitive decline to determine what would help prevent cognitive decline, cognitive impairment and clinical Alzheimer’s type dementia.

They describe their findings as “encouraging but inconclusive,” meaning they did determine interventions that could help reduce your risk of dementia. Still, they did not find any interventions that would certainly prevent dementia.

Interventions that could help prevent dementia

The NASEM determined three interventions that showed the most promise for reducing your risk of developing dementia.

1. Cognitive training

Cognitive Training - How To Prevent Dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

Cognitive training includes exercises that challenge your problem-solving, memory, and speed of processing skills. These exercises do not include computer-based brain games, which do not have a link to reduced risk of cognitive decline. These exercises are more complicated and in-depth, requiring medical supervision.

2. Managing high blood pressure

Managing High Blood Pressure - How To Prevent Dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

Controlling high blood pressure in midlife is linked to helping prevent dementia later in life. High blood pressure can have adverse effects on the brain and heart and can lead to vascular dementia, the second most common type of dementia that is caused by restricted blood flow to the brain.

You can manage high blood pressure through medication, diet and exercise (We’ll talk more about diet and exercise below.), but early intervention is key. If you wait until you’re older to try and get your blood pressure under control, it’s possible that damage to the brain has already been done.

3. Physical activity

Physical Activity - How To Prevent Dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

We’ve talked about this one before, but regular, moderate-intensity exercise has a strong connection to reducing your risk of developing dementia.

Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain as well as increasing chemicals that protect the brain. For example, when you exercise, you get a boost of the BDNF protein which helps promote the growth of new neurons in the brain. This is especially helpful for the hippocampus—a part of the brain associated with memory.

The recommended amount of exercise is 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. That can be walking, jogging, gardening, yoga—whatever you enjoy and can do consistently. As one doctor pointed out, you don’t have to join a gym or do intense strength training to reap the benefits of exercise. By simply doing a little more than you do now—taking the stairs rather than the elevator, walking to the coffee shop rather than driving—you can improve your physical and mental health.

Other lifestyle factors that could help prevent dementia

1. Getting enough sleep

Getting enough sleep - How To Prevent Dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

Sleep hygiene is good for the body and mind and getting enough sleep is crucial to your overall health. Therefore, not getting enough sleep is detrimental to your health. Make sure you are getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.

If you’re struggling with sleep, talk to your doctor. Another health problem could be causing you to lose much-needed sleep.

2. Reducing alcohol consumption

Reducing Alcohol Consumption - How To Prevent Dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

Consuming too much alcohol can worsen preexisting conditions such as diabetes, memory loss, high blood pressure and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are also linked to dementia.

Reducing your alcohol intake to the recommended amount (two drinks per day for men and one for women) can reduce your risk of dementia.

3. Staying socially connected

How To Move A Parent Into A Memory Care Facility - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

Isolation and loneliness have been linked to a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. By staying connected to your friends, family or community you can better your mental health and help prevent severe cognitive decline.

4. Eating a healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet - How To Prevent Dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

Researchers are still determining how strong the link is between diet and dementia. Still, there seems to be evidence that eating a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish and healthy fats could be related to a healthier brain. For example, the MIND diet (Mediterranean-Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) focuses on plant-based foods and has been shown to lower blood pressure, which is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

We know that eating a healthy diet is directly connected to factors that can increase your risk for Alzheimer’s such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease, so the stronger connection between diet and dementia may be that a healthy diet helps prevent diseases that can then lead to severe cognitive decline.

5. Caring for your mental health

Caring for your mental health - How To Prevent Dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

Depression has been linked to Alzheimer’s. Whether or not depression can cause Alzheimer’s is unknown, but researchers speculate that depression could cause changes to the brain in some people that put them at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s. Early intervention and treatment for depression or other mood disorders could help prevent dementia, but more research is needed to determine this.

6. Quitting smoking

Quitting smoking - How To Prevent Dementia - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX

Tobacco use puts you at higher risk for stroke, heart attack and lung disease. Quitting smoking at any age can help reduce your risk of developing diseases that are linked to Alzheimer’s.

While there is no sure-fire way to prevent dementia, research is encouraging in this area, pointing to several lifestyle changes you can easily make that could curb the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.

To learn more about research findings on dementia prevention, read the NASEM’s full report here.

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Covid Information

Continuing an Environment of Caring in Times of COVID-19


Safety of Residents and Staff

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, our communities are focused on keeping our Residents and staff safe while also maintaining Resident engagement and daily fulfillment. We are taking a cautious approach, balancing the highest level of safety within the least restrictive environment.

We will continue to follow and augment State and C.D.C. safety recommendations:

Screening: We screen every employee every day. We require our staff to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), have their temperature and oxygen level checked before entering the building. Staff are also required to clean their cell phones, keys and wash their hands while being observed. We monitor our Residents’ health closely with temperature and oxygen level checks at least twice a day. We help our Residents wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear a mask or face covering.

Cleaning: We have enhanced our cleaning products with regard for their effectiveness in killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitization and disinfection, using the EPA’s specific list of disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We are using this list and training staff on how long cleaning solutions must be kept on a surface before wiping it off to ensure its effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.

Physical Distancing: We encourage 6 foot distancing between Residents and with staff unless they are providing direct care to a Resident.

Testing: We test all Residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses utilize a PCR test, which we send to a private lab to expedite results.

Physical Changes: We have installed ultraviolet lights in our air conditioners that supply air to the common areas of the houses. This method is believed to be helpful in killing bacteria that is cycled through the systems and pushed back into the house. We’ve also enhanced our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add additional layers of protection to keep COVID-19 out of the building. Most importantly, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each resident room.

PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage Residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also encourage physical distancing between our Residents. Staff wears additional protective equipment when deemed necessary while caring for our Residents. Staff are continually trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual Needs Stay Paramount

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 affects us all. At our communities, we are not letting it stop us from safely offering a life well-lived. Above all, we are providing the utmost attention to the safety and well-being of our Residents. Our Program has always revolved around the individualized needs of each Resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents are still able to connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the patio and large backyard. We continue to keep our Residents engaged through cognitive, physical, recreational experiences. We offer enjoyment and connection throughout the day even during these unprecedented times.

Visitors

Since early March we have restricted facility access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Visitors: Healthcare providers including physicians, home health, private duty services, physical therapy and hospice staff have not been allowed in the communities unless there is an acute, essential need for our Residents. These services continue as needed through FaceTime, tele-med and phone conversations. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and screening for temperature and oxygen stats. No one is allowed in the community if they fail to meet our screening criteria.

Families: We are happy to help schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls with your loved ones based on what is allowed and prudent. To ensure the proper support from our staff, our visits are scheduled ahead of time.

Tours and Move-Ins

Tours: We recognize that regardless of the changes with COVID-19, your need for senior living hasn’t changed. For the safety of you, our Residents and staff, we are currently offering virtual tours where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Community Relations Director to set up a virtual tour.

Move-Ins: We are accepting a limited number of move-ins (unless otherwise instructed by public health department). New Residents must be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in. Upon admission, we will place a new resident in their room to quarantine as an additional precaution.

We will share community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue to evolve with new information of COVID-19.

We are honored to care for your family member and loved one.

 

Comments we’ve received from our families during COVID-19.

“We appreciate all of your efforts. Your team clearly is a leader in the response to COVID. Thank you for keeping our loved ones safe.”

Joseph

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL you have done and are doing to keep the residents and staff in a safe environment! The continuous learning and improvements empower caregivers and families to do better at home and in our communities.”

Tommy

“I appreciate you taking the time to update us and share them with my family living in AL, GA, VA, MD, FL…we are extremely grateful and comforted by your proactive and decisive measures! We’ll continue to keep you in prayer for health, safety and more.”

Rebecca

“In keeping with the parade theme you had, the employees there are super heroes. They are plowing forward in the midst of this horrible virus and taking care of their patients selflessly. I just wanted to acknowledge their bravery and dedication and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the goodness in their hearts and their dedication to their patients and jobs.”

Abigail

“Thank you! You locked down early & your diligence has paid well.

The Bader support group continues meeting once a month by Zoom. We all appreciate you so much. Everyone comments on how grateful we are that our parents are at Barton House!

We appreciate everything: sending us pictures, calls, alerts to bring supplies/clothes as needed, staying in virtual contact with hospice.
Blessings to each of you.”

Marsha

“Thank you for all y’all and all the staff are doing for my mom and the other residents. We truly appreciate your hard work.”

Carol

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