A Topic to Think About

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Dementia is scary to think about but I am getting to an age where such things are something I want to know more about. It seems that dementia might run in my family as I remember when I was quite young I went to visit an ailing paternal grandmother. She didn't know me and kept asking questions about me. She and I had been very close. It was very sad. So I am thinking about it more than I would be otherwise. Dementia is the loss of cognitive function. That includes remembering, thinking, and reasoning. These problems to an extent that it interferes with daily activity. It can affect emotion and personality. Some people start having symptoms as early as 30 but, most start when they are about 50. Alzheimer's is the most common type and about one-third of people 85 and older may show signs of the disease. Dementia is not a normal part of getting older. I started reading about those things that can cause dementia. I was surprised. Here is a list: * Processed Foods. Deli, pepperoni, etc. * Air Pollution. People who live in highly polluted areas are 1.4% more apt to get the disease. * Heart disease and the buildup of plaque in the arteries. This can cause the flow of blood to the brain to slow and could bring on the disease. * Diabetes. Doctors aren't sure why those with diabetes are more apt to get Dementia. * Sense of smell. Those with a bad sense of smell are actually twice as apt to get Dementia. You can get a test to see how good your sense of smell is. In a study of people living in America who had dementia, they found that almost half of these people had had some 'olfactory' trouble 5 years prior to onset. * High Cholesterol. * Herpes. Oral Herpes, or HSV1, can also affect the brain. * Depression. If you have or have had it in the past you may be more apt to get Dementia. * Head Injury. If you have had an injury where you feel dizzy, nauseated, or have blurry vision get it checked out because you could get dementia later in life. If found early you can get treatment. * Loneliness. People who have reported being lonely, and feeling alone are twice as apt to get Dementia. * Obesity. Extra weight may cause other diseases that may lead to Dementia. * Genes. These seem to matter more in some types of Dementia. * Sleep. If you have sleep issues you might be more apt to get Dementia or make it worse. * Smoking. This is bad for your blood vessels and heart which could cause a stroke that damages the brain and could make Dementia more possible. I have seven of these so I must be aware and work to keep this disease at bay. I hope this helps you folks and isn't too negative a topic. It is something we need to be aware of I think.