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Prevent, Slow Dementia
Prevent, slow dementia? I am a long-term cancer survivor who has struggled with a side effect called chemo brain for years. Based on my research and experience chemo brain is a due to inflammation from toxicity and may increase my risk of dementia.
I consider chermobrain to be a form of TBI or traumatic brain injury. TBI increased the risk of dementia. As a result of this increased risk of dementia, I look for and practice all sorts of evidence-based therapies shown to reduce dementia risk.
According to the research linked and excerpted below, daily internet use of more than 2 hours a day decreases the risk of dementia. Through The Galen Foundation DBA PeopleBeatingCancer I blog, cancer coach, and admin a closed online group called Beating Myeloma.
I spent more than two hours of each day on the internet.
Proven therapies shown to reduce th risk of dementia-
- Physical Exercise: Regular physical activity, including aerobic exercises like walking, swimming, or cycling, has been linked to a lower risk of dementia. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
- Healthy Diet: Following a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats (such as those found in fish, nuts, and olive oil) may help reduce the risk of dementia. The Mediterranean diet, in particular, has been associated with cognitive benefits.
- Cognitive Stimulation: Engaging in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, puzzles, learning new skills, or socializing with others can help maintain cognitive function and reduce the risk of dementia.
- Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol can increase the risk of dementia. Managing these risk factors through medication, lifestyle changes, and regular health check-ups can help lower the risk.
- Quality Sleep: Getting enough restful sleep is important for overall brain health. Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep per night, and address any sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea.
- Social Engagement: Staying socially active and maintaining strong social connections has been associated with a lower risk of dementia. Participate in social activities, join clubs or groups, or volunteer in your community.
- Mental Health Management: Addressing and managing conditions like depression, anxiety, and chronic stress can help reduce the risk of dementia. Seek support from mental health professionals if needed.
- Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of dementia, but moderate alcohol intake, especially of red wine, has been associated with a lower risk when consumed in moderation.
- No Smoking: Smoking is a known risk factor for dementia and should be avoided.
- Continued Learning: Lifelong learning and intellectual challenges, such as taking classes, learning a new language, or pursuing hobbies that require mental effort, can help keep the brain active and reduce the risk of dementia.
I would be remiss if I didn’t add a few more evidence-based therapies that I do in my ongoing effort to both increase my current brain power as well as prevent, slow dementia.
- Brain Games- BrainHQ in particular
- Daily, moderate exercise
- Nutritional supplementation
- Mediterranean Diet
- Plenty of sleep
Are you a newly diagnosed cancer patient? Are you a cancer survivor struggling with therapy-induced cognitive dysfunction aka chemobrain? Let me know if you’s like to learn more about evidence-based non-conventional therapies to manage your brain health- David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com
Hang in there,
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
More than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which experts believe accounts for 50–75% of dementia cases. In an aging population, AD cases are expected to increaseTrusted Source…
Does the Internet Protect the Elderly From Cognitive Decline?
“The results of a large longitudinal study spanning several years support a decrease in the risk for dementia among older adults who regularly use the internet for < 2 hours per day…
Several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies (though with relatively short follow-up periods) suggest that regular internet use helps maintain cognitive reserve, although some observers have voiced skepticism. This hypothesis is particularly relevant for older patients facing the potentially detrimental effects of brain aging.
According to some studies,
- memory,
- cognitive performance,
- and verbal reasoning
tend to be better preserved among internet users…
The risk for dementia based on initial internet use was estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model, incorporating potentially late entry into the workforce and several covariables. Interactions with education level, gender, generation, and ethnic origin were also considered. Cumulative internet exposure in terms of regular periodic use throughout life was included in the statistical analysis, as well as the hours spent on this activity each day. The analyses were conducted from September 2021 to November 2022…
Risk Nearly Halved
Regular internet use was associated with a reduced risk for dementia, compared with irregular use. The hazard ratio (HR) for dementia was estimated at 0.57. After adjustment for the nonrandom factor of self-selection, this association persisted, and the HR decreased to 0.54. Accounting for baseline cognitive decline did not substantially change these results and yielded an HR of 0.62.
The difference in risk between regular and irregular users was not altered by considering potential confounding factors such as education level, ethnic origin, gender, or generation. The longer the cumulative exposure over life, the lower the risk for dementia during follow-up…
The risk for dementia appears to be approximately twice as low among regular internet (Prevent, slow dementia) users compared with nonusers. This hypothesis deserves serious consideration because of the large sample size and long follow-up duration, as well as careful consideration of as many potential confounding factors as possible…”