Español Spanish. Minus Related Pages. Signs to watch for include: Not being able to complete tasks without help. Trouble naming items or close family members. Forgetting the function of items.

Repeating questions. Taking much longer to complete normal tasks. Misplacing items often. Being unable to retrace steps and getting lost. Learn More. Conditions That Can Mimic Dementia Symptoms of some vitamin deficiencies and medical conditions such as vitamin B12 deficiency, infections, hypothyroidism underactive thyroid , or normal pressure hydrocephalus a neurological condition caused by the build-up of fluid in the brain can mimic dementia.

How is Dementia Diagnosed? References Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, et al. Last Reviewed: June 29, Source: Division of Population Health , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Being social is important for both our physical and emotional health. We are social creatures, and our brains need connections with others. But social interaction is more than just making friends.

It also gives our mind a workout, makes us feel better emotionally, helps reduce stress, and can even keep our thinking skills sharp as we age.

When we talk and interact with people, it challenges our brains. We share ideas, learn new things, and feel like we belong. Even things like picking up on body language or really listening to what someone says help exercise different parts of our brain.

All of this can keep our minds quick and flexible, which is known as cognitive agility. Talking to others can also help us emotionally. It can make us feel less depressed or anxious. Studies have shown that people who are lonely often feel worse.

Just chatting about our worries can make us feel better and might even help us find solutions to our problems. Spending time with people we enjoy, like family, friends, or pets, can make us happy because it releases a hormone called oxytocin.

Being socially active can also help slow down memory loss as we get older. When we use our brains to think, listen, and solve problems, we make our brain connections stronger.

This strength can help protect our brains from age-related decline. Our brain has about billion neurons, which are tiny brain cells. These neurons make more than trillion connections using chemicals called neurotransmitters. These connections are what let us think, learn, remember, and do things.

As we get older, unfortunately, these connections can get weaker because of less blood flow and fewer nutrients and neurotransmitters reach the brain.

This can make our memory less than ideal as we need these components to function. Just like we exercise our muscles, we need to keep our brain active with the use of mental exercises, being social, and engaging in physical activity.

In fact, research has shown that these three things can help us think better and lower our risk of dementia. Mental exercises, like reading, making art, listening to music, doing puzzles, or learning new things, can make our brain stronger.

Socializing is also good for our brain. When we talk and spend time with others, we use our reasoning and empathy skills. We have to pay attention and then respond, which is work for the brain!

Being social can make us happier, which helps our brain work better. It can also encourage us to try new things, which is good for our brain.

Physical activity is linked to better brain function and can help delay dementia. When we exercise, we increase blood flow to the brain, bringing more oxygen and nutrients.

This can help grow new neurons and connections. Walking in nature, for example, is not only good exercise but also boosts our mood and brain power.

Have you ever considered why we spend a third of our life sleeping? The function of sleep is important for our bodies and brains, ranging from storing memories and learning that occurred from the day, removing toxins from our brain, and resetting our mood and emotional well-being to make us feel better.

As we age, the way we sleep can change because our brains change. Sleep has 5 different cycles that switch around throughout the night. These 5 cycles are divided into two main parts: rapid eye movement REM and non-REM stages. During REM, we dream, and our bodies stay still but our eyes move rapidly, hence the name!

This stage also helps us remember things through memory consolidation. Memory consolidation allows for better long-term remembering which is especially important to the aging brain.

Memory consolidation can strengthen connections between brain cells in addition to also creating new connections. Keeping our brain sharp through these connections can actually decrease our risk for cognitive decline and dementia.

How well we sleep can also affect our mood. In fact, you can probably think about a few times where you missed out on sleep and woke up cranky or on the wrong side of the bed making it hard to think or make good decisions.

Not sleeping enough regularly can cause serious health problems, such as problems with our memory, decision making, paying attention or even increase risk for depression and anxiety! This may be partly due to our brain not being able to get rid of waste which occurs during sleep.

Even more, lack of sleep has been linked to increased risk of dementia especially for those who experience sleep apnea causing reduction of oxygen to the brain during sleep, causing brain cells to not make connections as sharply. Because of the impact of sleep on physical and brain health, consider prioritizing sleep with good sleep hygiene such as:.

The mind and body are closely linked. The brain is an organ just like the heart or liver. So, habits that are good for the body are also good for the brain. But bad habits can harm both our physical and mental health.

Blood is circulated by the heart and carries nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. We get these nutrients from our diet and the oxygen from our lungs.

All organs and cells in our body require these products but our brain consumes the most. In fact, our brain alone requires percent of our blood and 20 to 30 percent of our energy intake at any given time.

If our cardiovascular system which includes our heart and vessels does not function well due to plaque buildup caused from poor diet, hypertension, or vascular damage from diabetes, our brain can suffer. Likewise, if our lungs are affected by smoking, pollution, or chemicals, it can reduce the amount of oxygen exchanged resulting in decreased to the body.

Without good nutrition and oxygen supplied by good circulation, the brain is unable to function at its best, which can affect cognitive function and increase the risk for dementia.

So, it is essential to do things that can lower the risk of these brain problems. Thankfully, studies have shown that what is good for our physical health is also good for our brain! For example, risk factors for brain problems include unhealthy eating, smoking, too much alcohol, depression, diabetes, being overweight, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Protective factors for the brain include physical activity, mindfulness, good sleep, mental and social activities, managing chronic diseases, and education. Learn something new Taking on a new hobby or skill can improve both cognitive functioning and your sense of well-being as you age.

Learning a foreign language, for example, is a process of listening and internalizing new sounds which stimulates the brain. Seek out social interaction When regularly engaging in social activities and having stimulating conversations, seniors are less likely to develop both depression and dementia.

Maintaining these connections is one of the most effective ways to keep your spirits high and your mind busy and engaged. Keep stress under control Chronic stress can wreak havoc on both the mind and the body, especially as we age. Though it is not always easy to let go of worries, fears, or responsibilities, it is important to make time each day to relax and reflect.

Whether meditation, exercise, spending time with an animal, or treating yourself to a spa treatment makes you feel at ease, taking active steps to reduce stress will help you ward off depression and other mental health concerns such as anxiety or substance abuse.

Maintain physical fitness and a healthy diet An active, healthy body is critical in maintaining an active, healthy mind. Eating a balanced, healthy diet, and enjoying physical activity such as walks or group exercise classes is a key way to maximize brain function and improve overall health.

Know where to get help if you need it Become familiar with the signs of depression and seek professional help right away if you think you or a loved one is depressed.

Seniors At Home offers both individual counseling and support groups , offering a safe space to explore difficult thoughts and feelings. If you or a loved one are experiencing memory loss on a regular basis, seek counsel from your physician.

To find out how Seniors At Home can help, call or contact us online now. Call us today to get started or fill in the form below. We can also answer any questions you have about aging or senior care. All donations are tax deductible.

Search Close this search box. Call Services Home Care Care Management Concierge Care Futures Program In-Home Dementia Care Caregiver Resource Library Palliative Care Professional Fiduciary Services Spiritual Care See More Services Rates About Our Team Service Area Awards Professional Partnerships FAQs Resources for Seniors Become a Caregiver Careers Why work for us?