Supplements Battle Dementia

Introduction.

Forgetting the odd thing is not a sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s; however, at what point does forgetting the odd thing turn into a more regular occurrence – sufficient to worry us that dementia may be just around the corner? Of course dementia is a medical condition requiring medical diagnosis, but it is also a disease on the increase known to affect around one in twenty people in the developed western countries. It is known that delaying retirement can help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, but apart the ‘use it or lose it’ mentality – what can we do to help keep our mental faculties in tact?

Dementia and health basics.

Keeping yourself physically active and healthy will help to stave off dementia.

 The fact is that you need to see dementia as one of those things that may happen as we get older. Some people might get arthritis, some might get cataracts etc – dementia is just another thing on the list. So, exactly the same as we might take health supplements to tackle those other things – what can we do to tackle dementia? Apart from avoiding any knocks or injuries to the brain, keeping your heart and blood circulation in good order is very important. An impaired heart or blood vessels means that properly oxygenated blood will not be reaching the brain as efficiently as it should. You can help to keep your blood vessels open and free-flowing by taking cholesterol lowering health supplements as well as switching to a low fat diet. There are also a range of health supplements to help you keep your blood pressure down, reducing strain on the heart and the likelihood of cardio-vascular problems. You should also take your blood pressure regularly, if it’s above 140/80 – consult with your doctor. Interestingly women on HRT have been found to have a lower instance of developing Alzheimer’s, however; HRT itself can present other health issues.

Omega-3s.

One definite supplement you should consider for battling dementia is having a daily dose of Omega-3s, either as a health supplement or through eating oily fish. Omega-3 is a fatty acid that is thought to slow the growth of plaques in the arteries supplying the brain. So, by taking Omega-3 supplements you’re helping the oxygen carrying blood to pass unhindered into the brain at a very localized and important point. One American study has determined that those taking Omega-3s regularly can halve their chances of developing dementia.