When the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, it signals the beginning of a brand new chapter; a clean slate for everyone to refresh their daily routines, improve upon themselves, and start on their New Year’s resolutions! Resolutions are personal goals to set for yourself, whether you want to improve your health or make new strides in your career, friendships, or happiness.
A 2019 survey found that over half of Americans made resolutions to be healthier in the new year, with these goals ranging from losing weight to cutting back on unhealthy habits like smoking or drinking. Healthy New Year’s resolutions are an excellent way to keep yourself fit and stave off chronic illnesses. In addition, when you decide to make healthier choices this New Year, you can drastically reduce your risk for dementia.
While certain risk factors of dementia, such as age and genetics, can’t be changed, Brickmont Assisted Living is dedicated to sharing resources about dementia and care. Here are our top New Year’s resolutions to reduce your risk of dementia.
Get Active!
Regular exercise is great for reducing weight, getting your blood pumping, and improving your mental well-being. It can also significantly help to reduce the chances of developing a form of dementia. When we exercise, our bodies see an increase in blood flow and circulation, which allows brain-protecting chemicals to multiply. Exercise also helps increase the size of the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain associated with memory formation.
When we participate in physical activity, especially when discovering a new workout class or exercise routine, our cognitive abilities are utilized. For example, reasoning, judgment, and thinking skills all go into ensuring our bodies can complete a workout.
Eat Healthy
A balanced diet is known to contribute to many beneficial health improvements. For example, using healthy, whole foods reduces our risks for cancer, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Research has suggested that people who consume more fruits and vegetables are at a lower risk of developing dementia, based on the way that healthy foods can affect our minds. Try making one of these specific resolutions this year:
- Eating five portions of fruits and vegetables each day
- Eating fish or other omega-3-rich foods at least twice a week
- Staying mindful of sodium levels
Quit Smoking
It’s a given that smoking is detrimental in many ways. If you smoke, you’re putting yourself at a dangerously high risk of developing cancer and heart disease.
Researchers in Finland have found that adults in their 50s and 60s who are regular smokers are at a much higher risk for developing dementia. Out of a study group of over 20,000 people, over 5,000 were diagnosed with a form of dementia later in life.
While former smokers were not at risk (meaning those who had smoked in their earlier years and quit successfully), it's still crucial to understand the connection between smoking and dementia. Smoking contributes to oxidative stress and inflammation, which are important factors in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Workout Your Brain
When we regularly challenge our brains or participate in a new hobby or activity, our minds are constantly building new skills. Not only does it improve memory, reasoning, and learning function, but it allows our brains to build up an ability to cope with disease – and stave it away.
Find an activity that you enjoy this New Year, whether it be painting, learning an instrument, or even knitting! Here are some other ways to keep your brain active:
- Challenge yourself to complete the weekly crossword puzzle in your newspaper each week
- Learn a new language
- Write your own short stories, poems, or create a blog where you can write about your passions
If you plan on making your New Year’s resolutions to improve your health, consider how different areas of wellness can contribute to the prevention of dementia. Not only will these resolutions help you to enjoy a new level of higher wellness and happiness, but in the long run, they can help your mind stay active and protect itself against the risk of dementia.
With assisted living and dementia care communities throughout Georgia, Brickmont Assisted Living promotes healthy aging through our care, services, and support. For more resources, information, and tips, we invite you to visit our Brickmont blog.
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