Fighting Dementia in Elderly

Fighting Dementia in Elderly

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The elderly often find themselves to more forgetful, but they can still carry on with their daily activities as usual. Some signs of forgetfulness for example are losing things easily, forgetting to go to an event or appointment, or finding it difficult to recall some words. These can be early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s with further deterioration in thinking ability and daily performance.

What is Dementia?

However, dementia itself is not a normal part of aging.  Dementia is defined as loss of cognitive functions such as thinking, memory, learning, and behavior ability to the point of disrupting the quality of life and activity. People with dementia might have problems with language, visual perception, or attention span. Memory impairment is not the only sign of dementia. However, memory impairment can also be caused by depression, infection, or drug side effects which all can be cured.

Best Foods to Fight Dementia in Elderly

To prevent such problems, nutrition is the main safeguard. Here are some of the food to help fight dementia:

  • Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and kale are vegetables high in vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene. Studies showed that they can help with decreasing cognitive function.
  • Fatty fish as a source of omega-3 fatty acid, healthy non fatty acid, correlated with reduction in beta amyloid, which is aa protein causing blockage in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients. If you don’t like fish than you can choose supplements or other sources like avocado and walnuts. 
  • Berries which contain flavonoid to improve memory.
  • Tea and coffee to improve concentration as supported by many studies.
  • Walnuts and other nuts are very good sources of protein and healthy fat. Walnuts specifically has been proven to improve cognitive function due to its very high omega-3.
  • Eggs as one of the best sources for choline. Choline is found to reduce inflammation and support brain function such as maintaining memory and communication between brain cells. Eggs can also be used as ingredients in various desserts.

Best Activities to Prevent Dementia in Elderly

Aside from nutrition, another way to maintain cognitive function is through brain stimulation to reduce stress. Here are some of the suggested activities:

  • Playing cards or puzzle
  • Reading books or magazines
  • Writing daily journal
  • Arts and crafts
  • Pursuing hobby like gardening or knitting

The purpose is to activate many areas of the brain and reduce stress to avoid cognitive deterioration and memory loss. Family or caregiver should involve the elderly with regular daily activities and encourage them to be active at home. Contact Kavacare Support  0811 1446 777  to get help from a professional elderly caregiver.

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Reviewed by:
Ditinjau oleh:

Dr. Eddy Wiria, PhD

Co-Founder & CEO Kavacare