Cognitive decline is something that happens to almost everyone as they age. It is a result of a combination of lifestyle habits, genetic factors, trauma, medication side effects, and illness such as Alzheimer’s disease. Studies predict that by 2050, the likelihood of developing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Vascular Dementia, will increase by 45%.
Cognitive decline is when an individual experiences difficulty with language, remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect their everyday life. Common signs are memory loss, confusion, difficulty carrying out tasks, loss of short-term or long-term memory, and impaired judgement. Typically, cognitive function improves over the first 18 years of life, peaks during the next few years, and then begins to deteriorate. Cognitive decline is a normal part of aging, however, research has shown that simple lifestyle changes might delay the start of cognitive decline or slow its progression. Here are a few things that can help with brain health:
Cognitive decline is inevitable, however, by taking proactive steps the brain can remain healthy and may reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.