Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 75% of cases, notes Dr. Ana Alicia López Lomelí, clinical neuropsychology specialist at ABC Medical Center.
This type of dementia is a chronic, irreversible neurodegenerative disease, with memory problems as one of its main symptoms. While Alzheimer’s has no cure, early diagnosis along with appropriate medical and therapeutic treatment can help support a better quality of life and greater independence.
The World Health Organization notes that women are disproportionately affected. In the Americas, 66% of deaths from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia occur in women.
In addition to medical treatment, various activities can help slow the disease’s progression by promoting greater cognitive reserve, notes Dr. López.
Exercise
Research shows that 30 minutes of aerobic, flexibility, and resistance exercise three times a week promotes a range of neural growth factors that help improve connections between neurons.
Sleep
Getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night is essential for healthy brain function. It’s also recommended to avoid screens and limit caffeine or other stimulants right before bed. Getting proper sleep has been linked to better concentration, memory consolidation, and emotional stability.
Socializing
Staying socially engaged can help delay the onset of cognitive problems by putting skills like language, memory, concentration, and emotional regulation into practice, which can improve stress management and prevent depression. Socializing can happen either in person or virtually.
Diet
Following a diet rich in antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant foods is a great tool for supporting brain function; the MIND diet, the DASH diet, and the Mediterranean diet are all widely used for this purpose.
Cognitive Therapy
This is one of the most effective tools for slowing the disease’s progression; it’s a type of therapy that trains various cognitive functions to help ease symptoms as dementia progresses.
Writing
Writing activates many areas of the brain at once. A helpful practice is writing down your daily activities each day, including as much detail as possible. This simple habit helps stimulate motor skills and short-term memory, which are among the areas most affected by dementia.
Reading
Reading for at least 30 minutes a day, alternating between reading aloud and reading silently, helps strengthen concentration, memory, and verbal fluency.
Looking at Photographs
Choosing a set of photos from different stages of life, and describing the people in them, the situation in which they were taken, and the memories they bring up, helps activate a sense of time orientation and long-term memory.
Getting a Clock and Calendar
Placing a large clock and calendar somewhere visible makes it easier to track the date, year, and time, this helps create a supportive environment that promotes clarity and connection with one’s surroundings.
Mental Challenges
Games like Sudoku, mazes, memory games, crossword puzzles, or even board and card games like dominoes and chess help provide cognitive stimulation. When played with a partner or in a group, they also offer the added benefit of socializing. Choose activities that are challenging but not so difficult that they cause frustration.
At ABC Medical Center’s Neurology Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
