Can you prevent dementia?
Unfortunately, there is no clear yes or no answer. The fact of the matter is that they are still researching whether dementia is preventable or not. The good news is that many studies are showing that there are certain things that you can do to reduce your risk for getting dementia. Before we talk about lowering your risk for dementia, you need to understand what the risk factors are. The following is a list from our long-term care experts in Elk Horn of the risk factors of dementia:

Risk factors that you cannot change:

• Age - The older you get, the higher your risk for developing dementia is. However, it is important to keep in mind that younger people can also develop dementia.
• Family History - If dementia runs in your family history, you have a higher risk for developing it, especially if you have certain genetic mutations. There are tests to determine whether or not you have those genetic mutations, and you need to know that not everyone with a family history of dementia ends up developing it.
• Down Syndrome - When people with down syndrome get to middle age, many of them develop tangles and plaques in their brains, which are associated with dementia. Some people with down syndrome even develop dementia.

Risk factors that can be changed: 

• Blood Pressure
• Heavy Alcohol Use
• Depression
• Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Atherosclerosis
• Obesity
• High Estrogen Levels
• Smoking
• Homocysteine Blood Levels

Now that you know about the risk factors of dementia, it's time to learn how to minimize your risk for developing it. Please stay tuned for our next blog to learn more.