The start of the dementia can be delayed by making these four changes
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The start of the dementia can be delayed by making these four changes

They can enter their twilight, but Paddy Goldsmith and her husband Jeff embrace a new way of life.
The couple is cooking and practicing their body and senses in an attempt to reduce their risk of dementia.

“Unfortunately we have a number of friends with dementia or take care of people with dementia and see how it affected people, it is encouraged me to learn what I can and maybe we can prevent it in ourselves,” 82-year-old Paddy told SBS News .

For three years, Goldsmiths participated in a world-first Australian trial aimed at preventing cognitive decline.
“How the course was presented made it possible to make it a way to live,” Paddy said.
Maintenance Your brain study tracked more than 6,000 people aged 55 to 77 across metropolitan, countryside and removing Australia for three years.

The online lifestyle intervention program was the largest Internet-based trial in this space and found that it could delay dementia’s beginning of dementia.

An older man and woman who picks vegetables in her garden.

Jeff (left) and Paddy (right) hope that lifestyle changes they have made will prevent the beginning of dementia. Source: SBS News / Catriona stared

Changes in four areas may delay dementia

Professor Henry Brod Dye, co -director of the Center for Healthy Brain Aging at the University of New South Wales, led the research.
“We know that 45 percent of the risk of dementia is caused by environmental factors, things that we can do something about,” he told SBS News.
“These are things like physical activity, unhealthy diet, people who have had less education, less brain development or cognitive activities.”

The study participants were asked to make changes in four important areas:

  • Physical activity: Including fitness training, strength and balance training.
  • Nutrition: The participants were asked to follow a Mediterranean diet.
  • Brain training: 45-minute sessions of brain training, focus on cognitive domains, including visual and verbal memory.
  • Peace of mind: Including a digital mental health program aimed at reducing depression and anxiety.

Half of them received online coaching and support, while the others received publicly available information.

BroDay said the course resulted in improved cognition in older adults for both groups.
“At the end of year three, we found that both groups improved, but we thought that the coaching group had improved even more than the active controls,” he said.

“We appreciate that it corresponds to the beginning of dementia for about a year. We cannot prove it yet, but with a much longer follow -up we hope to prove it.”

Dementia is expected to become Australia’s leading cause of death

More than 421,000 Australians live with dementia.
Under current forecasts it is expected to exceed heart disease such as .
Dr. David Sykes, head of dementia Australia, said that research emphasized the need to raise society’s awareness.

“We have good examples in this country with health messages and lead the world by actually. And I think there is an opportunity to apply it in the dementia context around training, about diet, around brain training and cognitive function,” Sykes told SBS News.

“We also need the government to rise and take greater responsibility to promote major messages about public health awareness of this.”
Paddy and Jeff said that although their efforts do not mean they are immune, they feel good for doing everything to reduce their risks.

“Getting old is not too weak heart. And I believe that if we can maintain the quality of life – as we are, have and look forward to – that’s the important thing.”