Dementia's Lifestyle Issues.

• Author: Forni, Amy
• Position: MIND BODY

THE CENSUS BUREAU estimates that there are 73,000,000 baby boomers in the nation. As that segment of the population--defined as adults bom from 1946-64--continues to age, specialists predict that there will be an increase in dementia cases. As a result, many older adults and their loved ones may wonder whether they are at risk for dementia, and if there is anything they can do to prevent it.

There has been increasing research on how lifestyle issues affect Alzheimer's disease and dementia risk. Several of these risk factors are modifiable, meaning that individuals may be able to decrease their level of risk if they avoid or change certain behaviors. Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, physical activity, and smoking fall into the category of "lifestyle issues," but they also relate to an individual's level of vascular health. Researchers are not entirely sure why vascular health is linked to Alzheimer's, but keeping your body's blood vessels functioning well promotes blood flow to the brain, which could affect the mental processes involved in learning, problem solving, remembering, and thinking.

Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption may reduce your risk as well. Alcohol is a toxin to multiple organs, including the brain. Excessive alcohol use is defined as consuming eight drinks or more per week for women and 15 drinks or more per week for men.

Avoiding traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, can prevent damage that eventually could contribute to the onset of dementia. Studies over the last 30 years have shown individuals--such as athletes--who experience moderate, severe, or repeated mild TBIs may have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's years after the original head injury occurred. It is important to know that there is no evidence that a single TBI increases risk, and more research is needed to determine the exact link between TBIs and dementia.

Even hearing loss--which might not seem like it is a modifiable risk because it may be related to aging or other factors (such as listening to loud...