The latest scientific study pins memory loss from aging to the age of 45. Here are some ways to prevent early onset dementia like Alzheimer’s disease and reclaim your youth.
45- Is it the new 60?
According a recent study on cognitive decline, the first signs of aging, such as memory loss, begin at the age of 45. The UK study, which tracked 5,198 men and 2,192 women, suggests that people should become more proactive in preventing Alzheimer’s disease much earlier than earlier expected.
- Participants between the ages of 45-70 submitted to various cognitive testing, including vocabulary, memory, reasoning, and auditory and visual learning abilities.
- Examples of cognitive testing include identifying patterns, recalling short words, naming words from memory beginning with the letter “S,” or animal names.
- Scientists met with study volunteers three times during a 10-year period.
- Results: With the exception of vocabulary, cognitive scores in memory, reasoning, and learning abilities declined in all age groups, beginning at the ages of 45-49, for both men and women.
- For men and women, dementia escalated by the age of 65-70.
- Older males saw a 9.6% decline by age 70, while elderly females of the same age exhibited a 7.4% decline.
Here’s Your Brain on B12 Deficiency- Memory Loss and Aging
Lifestyle changes to prevent memory loss
By making some simple changes in your life, you can delay symptoms of aging that include memory loss, confused thinking, fatigue, and hair greying.
Here are some helpful tips:
- Increase intake of vitamins and minerals, including healthy omega-3 oils, vitamin D, vitamin C, and B complex vitamins, particularly vitamin B12, which is proven to aid in cognitive functioning and maintaining healthy brain mass.
- Eat low cholesterol, low-fat foods.
- Avoid high fat or processed foods.
- Restrict sodium intake.
- Exercise every day.
- Check your blood pressure.
- Quit smoking.
Brainy People are high on B12, according to Brain Health Study
Prevent vitamin B12 deficiency
Numerous studies prove that vitamin B12 is more than just the energy vitamin– it also is essential for brain health and rejuvenation. Vitamin B12 protects your nervous system, aids in producing red blood cells, builds DNA, and boosts cognitive skills.
- By controlling homocysteine levels, vitamin B12 helps lower your risk for heart attack and stroke. Scientists have noticed a high correlation between elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood and increased risk for dying of heart failure or stroke.
- Scientific research also indicates a direct relationship between low levels of vitamin B12, reduced brain volume, and decreased cognitive skills, such as loss of short-term memory
- Besides memory loss, other age-related symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include premature hair loss, hair greying, fatigue, difficulty walking, difficulty concentrating, and emotional problems like depression and nervousness.
Read more about B12 deficiency and aging:
How to keep Vitamin B12 Deficiency from Shrinking your Brain
Vitamin B12- How much do you need?
Sources:
Memory Loss May Occur as Early as 40s
Memory loss from aging can start as early as 45: Study
Timing of onset of cognitive decline: results from Whitehall II prospective cohort study- BMJ
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