Brain Games
As you age , your brain continually changes . Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to your body and your mind . Just like it is important to exercise daily to keep your body in shape , it is equally as important to exercise your brain . Memory loss doesn ’ t occur simply due to aging , but because of brain injury , illness or disorders . Many of these issues are due to unhealthy habits or poor lifestyle choices that could be otherwise avoided .
Dementia is one of the most common categories of brain diseases . A common misconception is that dementia is actually a disease , but it is not . Dementia is a term that defines a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life including impaired memory , communication and language , ability to focus , reasoning and judgment , and visual perception . At least two of the aforementioned symptoms must be severely impaired to indicate signs of dementia . Usually the signs and symptoms of dementia are progressive and get worse over time . If caught early by a healthcare professional , some symptoms can be treated . One of the most common types of dementia is Alzheimer ’ s disease .
Alzheimer ’ s accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases . It causes severe problems with daily tasks that involve memory , thinking and behavior . It is not a normal part of aging , but the greatest known risk factor is increasing age , as the disease is progressive . While it is most common in people over the age of 65 , younger-onset Alzheimer ’ s is found in five percent of people as young as their 40s .
According to the Alzheimer ’ s Association , evidence shows that incorporating the following habits will keep you fit both physically and mentally :
u Heart Health – Obesity , high blood pressure and diabetes — all risk factors for cardiovascular disease — negatively impact your cognitive health . Cardiovascular activity increases blood flow to the brain and body , reducing the risk of cognitive decline . u Helmet Up ! – Brain injury is one of the leading causes of dementia and cognitive decline . Play it smart and always wear a helmet to protect from brain injury . u Sleep Tight – Have you ever stayed up late , only to find you ’ re forgetful and mentally lethargic the next day ? Not getting enough sleep can result in lower brain function , affecting memory and thinking . u Be a Social Butterfly – Staying active with friends and loved ones may support brain health as well . A recent study from the Women ’ s Healthy Aging Project found that babysitting grandchildren could lower the risk of Alzheimer ’ s . u Challenge Yourself – Enjoy crossword puzzles or painting ? Keep your brain challenged by doing something new each day , whether it is learning a new language , doing a jigsaw puzzle or reading a book !
Eye and Ear Health
Hearing and vision are two essential parts of our everyday lives . Yet there are many individuals who let ear and eye problems go unattended . Ear and eye health is equally as important as taking care of the rest of the body and should be well cared for to ensure many years of seeing and hearing the things you love .
Eye Health
It is important to visit your eye care professional once a year for a comprehensive eye exam . Although you may think you are seeing fine , issues may be lurking without any warning signs . During a yearly visit , your pupils will be dilated , or widened , so that your eye care professional can examine the back of the eye for damage or disease . It is important to know your family ’ s eye health history as well , since some conditions are hereditary . Some of the most common eye diseases include diabetic retinopathy , glaucoma , cataracts , and agerelated macular degeneration ( AMD ).
u Diabetic Retinopathy : This type 1 or type 2 diabetic complication is caused by damage to blood vessels in the retina , the light-sensitive tissues in the back of the eye . If left untreated , diabetic retinopathy could cause blindness . Early stages of this condition may go unnoticed if an eye care professional is not visited yearly . As the condition progresses , symptoms may include blurred vision , impaired color vision , floaters , and / or dark areas in your vision . Symptoms may occur if there is too much sugar in your blood , which can cause a blockage in the blood vessels that lead to the retina . Proper management of diabetes is the best way to prevent vision loss . u Glaucoma : The second leading cause of blindness , glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye ’ s optic nerve . The risk of developing glaucoma increases with age and if parents or siblings have the disease . During an eye exam , glaucoma can be detected by measuring eye pressure , inspecting the drainage angle of the eye , evaluating the health of the optic nerve and testing the visual field of each eye . Depending on the type and severity of the disease , glaucoma can be treated through eye drops , medication or surgery . u Cataracts : A cataract affects vision by clouding the lens of the eye . Chances of cataracts increase greatly with age , with more than half of all Americans either having a cataract or having had cataract surgery by the age of 80 . People in their 40s and 50s can have cataracts , but they are typically small and do not affect vision . Cataracts are detected by blurred vision , faded colors , glare from headlights or lamps , poor night vision , double vision , or frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses or contact lenses . Early detection can improve cataracts through new eyeglasses , anti-glare sunglasses or brighter lighting . Surgery can also be done to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens . u Age-Related Macular Degeneration ( AMD ): One of the common , but lesser known eye conditions is AMD . A leading cause of vision loss among people 50 years of age and older , AMD affects the macula , the millions of light-sensing cells that provide your eye with sharp , central vision . Age is a major risk factor for developing AMD , with most cases occurring after the age of 60 . Genetics , race , and smoking can also affect risk for AMD . A comprehensive eye exam can detect AMD through dilation and testing . Your eye care professional will look for yellow deposits beneath the retina to determine if you have AMD . Intermediate and late AMD can be treated with daily intake of vitamins and minerals that can slow the progression of the disease . Therapy and surgery can also be considered for types of advanced neovascular AMD , which typically results in severe vision loss , to stop further progression .
Hearing Loss and Prevention
It is common for hearing loss to occur as you age . According to the Mayo Clinic , about 25 percent of people in the United States between the ages of 55 and 64 have some degree of hearing loss , increasing to one in two people by age 65 and older . Chronic exposure to loud noises and aging are the two main causes of hearing loss , resulting in muffled speech from others , difficulty understanding words , frequently asking others to repeat themselves , loud volume on
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