Vitamin deficiencies, particularly in Vitamin D, B vitamins (B1, B6, B12, Folate), are significantly linked to an increased risk or symptoms resembling dementia, with low levels associated with higher dementia incidence, cognitive decline, and even reversible cognitive impairment in some cases, highlighting their crucial role in brain health, though research continues to clarify the exact impact of supplementation.
The number one cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, accounting for 60% to 80% of cases, characterized by protein plaques and tangles damaging brain cells, while other common types include vascular dementia (from blood flow issues), Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia itself isn't a single disease but a general term for symptoms, with Alzheimer's being the most frequent underlying condition.
The B-vitamins, particularly folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6, are widely believed to be protective against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline.
There's no single "number one" food, but fatty fish (salmon, mackerel) consistently ranks high due to omega-3s, while leafy greens (spinach, kale) are crucial for brain health, making them top contenders, especially within the Mediterranean/MIND diets that emphasize them alongside berries, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil for overall dementia risk reduction.
Donanemab contains antibodies that bind to a protein called amyloid, which builds up in the brain in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. This treatment tackles the underlying disease, unlike currently available treatments that can only relieve symptoms.
Several common habits significantly increase dementia risk, including physical inactivity, poor diet, excessive alcohol use, smoking, poor sleep, social isolation, hearing loss, and poor oral hygiene, while managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes also plays a crucial role in brain health. Adopting healthier habits like regular exercise, staying socially connected, and managing health conditions can help lower your chances of developing dementia.
What are the best vitamins to take daily?
It may be possible to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia by:
By the age of 75-80, 40% of people have a diminished ability to absorb food-bound B12, says Mason. This deficiency leads to a decline in nerve health, particularly in the spine and brain, which can contribute to the risk of developing dementia in older adults.
But Romano says it's a leap to say that skipping breakfast actually causes dementia. “Alzheimer's disease is a complex brain illness,” he says. “Although the study found these correlations between skipping breakfast and dementia, skipping breakfast might be an indicator of other health habits or life circumstances.”
Common anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl linked to increased dementia risk. A report published in JAMA Internal Medicine several years ago highlighted a link between long-term use of anticholinergic medications like Benadryl and dementia.
Scilla and Loveday labelled the contents of cupboards so Scilla didn't forget where food was. Loveday bought her mum a dementia clock with the time and date in big letters and hung a white memory board with a pen in the kitchen. “Each day she would make a note of things she had to remember to do.
Insomnia, sleep fragmentation, shorter sleep time, poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness all have been associated with poor cognitive outcomes and increased dementia risk [1–5, 36–38].
Some studies have shown that caffeine in coffee and tea may reduce dementia risk by a small amount, while other studies show no effect or a slightly increased risk.
Stick to a sleep schedule.
Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on the weekends.
While most forms of dementia, especially Alzheimer's, are progressive and currently incurable, some people experience temporary improvement or recovery because their symptoms were caused by treatable conditions mimicking dementia, like vitamin deficiencies, thyroid issues, or medication side effects, rather than neurodegeneration. Very rare cases of apparent reversal in degenerative dementia exist, sometimes linked to intense lifestyle changes or unexplained "terminal lucidity," but a true cure for diseases like Alzheimer's isn't available, though research offers hope.