In 2020, dementia was the second leading cause of death in Australia after coronary heart disease and was the leading cause of death for women. (AIHW stats)
The number of deaths due to dementia increased from 9,200 deaths in 2010 to 14,500 deaths in 2020.
As age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, the increase in the number of Australians dying from dementia is in part a reflection of more Australians living to older ages.
So, what is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term to describe a set of symptoms caused by brain disease and there are many types of dementia.
These include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body disease.
Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is more common as we age.
Typical signs of dementia include gradual changes in thinking, memory, language and other areas that impact everyday activities.
No two people are affected in exactly the same way.
#Dementia is a progressive condition that leads to reduced quality of life and life expectancy.
There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting dementia and reduce the symptoms, once diagnosed.
Chiropractic therapy is at the forefront of allied health therapies to help manage dementia symptoms.
What you can do to reduce your risk of dementia
Remember, your brain is your most precious asset so do all you can to protect and nourish it.
Being brain healthy is relevant at any age, whether you are young, old, or in between.
However, it is particularly important once you reach middle age as this is when changes start to occur in the brain.
The risk factors for dementia are different in everybody.
Whether you will develop dementia may be determined by a number of factors, some hereditary and some within your control.
Dementia risks which are out of your control include:
age – as you age, your risk of developing dementia increases
genetics – there are a few very rare forms of dementia associated with specific genes
family history – a family history of dementia increases your risk of developing dementia but at this stage, it is not clear why.
Dementia risks you can control:
You can reduce your risk of dementia by looking after your:
🎯 heart health
o High blood pressure
o High cholesterol
o Type 2 diabetes
o Obesity
🎯 body health
o Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, stimulates the growth of brain cells and the connections between them, and is associated with
larger brain volume.
o Diet, sleep patterns, hearing and head protection are also factors for good
body health
o Keep your brain active
o Maintain social connections
o Regularly do puzzles, crosswords, and card games
o Learn a new language or a new hobby
o Try to vary your daily activities
By making some easy lifestyle changes you can reduce or delay your risk of developing dementia.
And an important thing to remember is
It’s never too early or too late to start.
Complimentary therapies also play an important part in symptom reduction and risk delay.
Spinal misalignments, or subluxations, disrupt nerve communication between the brain and the spinal cord.
This leads to various forms of dysfunction within the body, including depriving the brain of necessary nutrients.
How Can Chiropractic Help with Dementia Symptoms?
The basis of all chiropractic care is the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord.
Given that Alzheimer’s is a problem that lies within the brain, focusing on the central nervous system is a great place to start.
A number of scientists researching Alzheimer’s have discovered a lack of nutrients in the brains of sufferers.
This may be worsened or even caused by #subluxations or spinal misalignments.
WHY?
Spinal subluxations disrupt the body’s natural order of nerve communication between the brain and the spinal cord which can lead to all kinds of dysfunction within the body, including denying the brain of necessary nutrients.
Restored central nervous system function allows the body to operate as it should using its own innate healing system to heal itself.
Chiropractic also helps with muscle and joint movements which may have been factors inhibiting some from doing much physical activity.
Balance is another area of concern for many older people which can be helped by a regime of chiropractic care.
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