A letter from a dementia doctor's family after dementia (Part 2)
Continued from Part 1
Here is the article's link๐
A letter from a dementia doctor's family after dementia (Part 1)
If we can support a friend who is handicapped due to a stroke and act as their crutch to let them walk slowly, we also hope that everyone can accept a friend who is easily forgotten due to dementia as their guide and let them walk slowly. Each of us has the opportunity and the possibility to face this situation personally, so please be sure to grasp every moment and live a beautiful, regret-free, fulfilling life.
If the brain is a bank, do you have enough deposits? Reserve sufficient brain deposits, starting today. Someone once asked Dr. Gary Small, a well-known neurologist: "How old is it too late? Even if you change your bad habits, can't you protect your brain?"
Dr. Small says, "Listen to me closely: It's never too late to start repairing yesterday's damage by starting to improve your lifestyle today." Lifestyle changes can not only take care of the brain but also maintain a strong body. Your body and brain will become younger.
1. Chew slowly: Dr. Koki Yoneyama, a neurology expert in Japan, has said that the more elderly people lack healthy teeth, the higher the rate of suffering from dementia. When chewing, blood circulation in the cerebral cortex increases, and chewing also stimulates the activity of brain nerves.
2. Bask in the sun: Zhuo Liangzhen, Director of the Physical and Mental Department of the Elderly Department of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, suggests going out and basking in the sun more often to prevent dementia. Sunlight can promote nerve growth factors, like "long hair," and make nerve fibers grow. Some experts have studied whether the amount of sun exposure is related to the development of dementia. Although there is no conclusion yet, daily exposure to sunlight can at least form a better sleep pattern and reduce the likelihood of depression.
3. Make a list: "At any age, attention is the key to healthy memory functioning." Dr. Shi Weil, executive director of the Memory Enhancement Program at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, USA, suggests making a list of tasks. Setting up a strict routine for daily work will help you complete your work effectively, no matter how difficult or challenging it is. You can try setting a specific time to read emails, not answering some less urgent calls until work is completed to a certain extent, or paying bills before doing other things.
4. Eat breakfast: Eating breakfast is not only good for your health but also for your brain. It used to be said that kids couldn't concentrate in class without breakfast, and they were right. Because the brain does not have the structure to store glucose, it needs a constant supply of calories. After a night's rest, the blood sugar concentration in the brain is low. If you do not supply calories, you may feel sleepy, easily agitated, and have difficulty learning new information.
5. Wear a seatbelt when driving and a helmet when riding a bicycle: Although the skull is very hard, the brain is very soft. Brain injuries can have a profound impact on life, regardless of age. Are you driving without a seatbelt or talking on your cell phone? Please quit these behaviors that risk brain injury and avoid severe head trauma.
To be continued...