With the prolonged COVID-19 outbreak, the difficulty in preventing dementia is also increasing. Decreased exercise and increased intake of take-out and instant food are factors that can exacerbate dementia. In particular, limited external activities reduce interpersonal relationships, and the resulting deepening of depression can exacerbate dementia. Kim Jae-ho, a professor of neurology at Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, explained how to prevent dementia in everyday life.
Foods good for dementia prevention include salad, salmon, avocado, Brussels sprouts, tofu, and turmeric. It is recommended to consume fruits daily unless you have severe diabetes.
It is good to eat enough vegetables every day. The elderly often eat mostly vegetables or kimchi, which they usually eat, but it may not be possible to eat an adequate amount of vegetables. Because it is high in salt, it is difficult to ingest a sufficient amount.
The habit you should avoid is eating sweet foods. The link between diabetes and dementia has been proven through many studies, and it is known that diabetic patients are twice as likely to develop vascular dementia and 1.6 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to non-diabetics.
Professor Kim said, “The tendency to seek sweet foods has become stronger due to the increase in depression caused by the prolonged corona virus, so caution is required.” .
Frequent meeting and conversation with people or engaging in interpersonal activities is also a great help in preventing dementia and delaying the worsening of dementia. People who don’t interact with other people are 1.5 times more likely to develop dementia. It is important to maintain regular contact with people, and if it is difficult to go out, it is also helpful to make phone calls and video calls with family and friends.
Exercise is also good for preventing dementia. Aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, and running is the best exercise to improve cognitive function. Regular exercise promotes blood circulation in the brain and facilitates the connection between nerve cells.
Walking three times a week or more reduces the risk of cognitive impairment by 33% and the risk of dementia by 31%. Physical activity indoors also protects the cranial nerves and prevents cognitive decline.
Professor Kim said, “The reluctance to visit hospitals is growing due to corona, and many people with dementia do not even know that their condition is getting worse without receiving regular examinations. It is important to work hard.”
[ 경기신문 = 정경아 기자 ]
