More than 10 million new cases every year
Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life. It's not a specific disease, but several diseases can cause dementia.
Though dementia generally involves memory loss, it has different causes. Having memory loss alone doesn't mean you have dementia, although it's often one of the early signs of the condition.
Currently more than 55 million people live dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year. It is currently the seventh leading cause of death among all diseases and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older globally.
It has physical, psychological, social and economic impacts, not for only people living with dementia, but also for their families and society at large.
There are different types of dementia. Neurodegenerative disorders results in a progressive and irreversible loss of neurons and brain functioning. Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common dementia caused by changes in the brain, including abnormal buildups of proteins, known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
Other types of dementia are front temporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia and mixed dementia which is a combination of two or more types of dementia.
While the condition in many kinds in dementia is irreversible, taking care of your brain health, may keep the disease bay. A good diet can nourish and rejuvenate brain cells and prevent cognitive decline.
Asma Alam, consulting Nutritionist and Dietitian suggests some foods that can help prevent dementia.
* Nuts - They are loaded with nutrients like vitamin B, E, magnesium as well as healthy fats, all of which help in promoting good cognition alongside warding off signs of dementia.
* Leafy greens - Greens like spinach, kale, collard greens, etc are some of the veggies that have a good amount of essential B vitamin like folate and B9 that help in reducing depression.
* Seeds - Flax seeds, sunflower seeds, as well as pumpkin seeds contain antioxidants and essential nutrients like zinc, omega 3s, and vitamin E that help in reducing cognitive decline. You can snack on such seeds as it is, simply sprinkle them on salads.
* Berries - Such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries etc consists of a flavonoid called anthocyanin. They are packed with antioxidants that help in reducing inflammation and maintain good brain health.
* Spices - Cinnamon, cumin and sage taste amazing as seasonings in different meals. Such spices also help in reducing inflammation.
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