Hit the gym, fight dementia

Your fitness levels in your youth could well determine whether or not you experience dementia in old age Findings published in February this year in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggest that dementia could be linked to fitness levels of individuals The report looked over 19000 middleaged individuals who were given a treadmill exercise test over a period of 38 years These researchers found over 1600 cases of dementia and those who stayed fit used the treadmill at a regular interval were 40 per cent less likely to develop dementia A similar study reported in UPIcom conducted over 20000 individuals at Cooper Institute in Dallas found that adults who stayed aerobically fit during middle age were less likely to develop dementia than those who didn39t What does this mean Dr Bharat Shah psychiatrist Lilavati Hospital Mumbai spells it out ldquoFor the first time a study has linked dementia to fitness levels opening a new avenue to avert this agerelated disorder for the middleaged in developing countries like Indiardquou00a0Dementia is a syndrome that can be caused by a number of progressive disorders that affect memory thinking behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities Alzheimerrsquos disease is the most common cause of dementia Other types include vascular dementia caused by a blockade in the blood circulation system dementia with Lewy bodies protein bodies found in Alzheimerrsquos and Parkinsonrsquos disease patients and frontotemporal dementia Dementia might also be due to injury to head deficiency of Vitamins B12 and D and intake of intoxicants like alcohol and nicotine that kills brain cells A Vitamin D diet with fish helps Why fitness matters Dementia mainly affects those over 65 although there have been cases that start before this age Dr YA Matcheswalla professor of Psychiatry at Grant Medical College says ldquoThe youngest case of dementia that I have come across is 42 which was a general case without the use of any intoxicants or injuries to the head Although this is rare itrsquos a matter of concernrdquo After 65 chances of developing dementia roughly doubles every five years According to Dr Shah although the study assumesu00a0fitness to be the only factor not including diet lifestyle and work environment the knowledge helps in planning better for those with dementia especially vascular dementia which is caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain due to a blockade in the vascular system ldquoMost who are physically fit could also be assumed to maintain a balanced dietrdquo he adds Studies have linked dementia to a Vitamin D deficiency mdash some link Alzheimerrsquos to a Vitamin B12 deficiency Exexercising daily maybe with your partner will improve blood circulation and release oxygen into your brain cells Physical fitness irrespective of whether or not it prevents dementia should be given importance says Dr Pettarusp Wadia neurologist Jaslok Hospital ldquoIndiarsquos middleaged suffer from lifestyle diseases like diabetes high cholesterol and blood pressure These could be linked to vascular dementiardquo he believes Play on the mind Today already 585 per cent of people with dementia are from low and middleincome countries like India By 2050 itrsquos expected to be around 70 per cent ldquoIndia doesnrsquot have a proper strategy or care centres to look after people with dementia Mumbai has just two care centres mdash a day care centre in South Mumbai and a full care centre in Neralrdquo rues R Gopalakrishnan whose fulltime care centre is set to open by Aprilend in Vasai Secondly the fastest growth in the elderly population is in China India and their South Asian and Western Pacific neighboursu00a0 Experts believe those who solve puzzles crosswords and Sudoku can combat dementia better than those who do not By 2020 the old will contribute to 22 per cent of Indiarsquos total population Speaking of numbers in 2010 Alzheimerrsquos Disease International ADI estimated worldwide costs of dementia to be US604 billion These costs account for around 1 of the worldrsquos Gross Domestic Product Figures aside Dr Wadia says that physical and mental fitness should be given importance ldquoYour brain is like a machine If you donrsquot use it often it rusts In my practice I have seen that people who use their brain more often or get involved in crossword puzzles and Sudoku are more equipped to deal with dementia than those who donrsquot Yet physical fitness is equally important to ensure that your brain gets a regular supply of oxygen to function wellrdquo he asserts Dos and Don39ts with dementia gt Exercise daily or at least practise aerobics This helps in blood circulation and oxygenation of brain cells Oxygen deficiency is one of the main factors that cause dementia gt Avoid intoxicants like alcohol and nicotine Both drinking and smoking kills brain cells gt Always maintain a balanced dietmdash Ensure that your diet fulfills the daily requirements of Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 as studies have linked dementia to the deficiency of these two nutrients gt Try to live a stresscontrolled life You should know how to control your stress and at the same time destress yourself gt Socialise mdash Adequate social life is also important to keep your brain healthy gt Develop good hobbies mdash both physical and mental It would help keep the vascular system and your brain in order gt Regular physical and mental checkup is essential to ensure that you receive the right treatment in time Treating dementia gt Timely intervention is very helpful in dementia care Early therapeutic intervention can be effective in improving cognitive function treating depression improving caregiver mood and delaying institutionalisation gt One should not think that therersquos no hope or nothing can be done gt Most people with earlystage dementia would wish to be told of their diagnosis