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Good news for baby boomers! Baby boomers, those born between the years 1946 and 1964, make up the vast majority of America’s growing senior population. In the last decade, the rates of dementia in the elderly have dramatically declined. In a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine on more than 10,000 seniors over the age of 65, the incidence of dementia dropped by a whopping 24 percent between 2000 and 2012. (1,2)
Current estimates suggest that nearly 5 million seniors in America have dementia, and that number is predicted to triple by the year 2050. (2) Healthcare for cognitive decline in seniors is extremely common and often necessary, and costs tax payers billions of dollars a year. While there is no cure for dementia at this time, preventative efforts may be paying off.
Researchers believe that some of the decline rates can be attributed to the fact that aging baby boomers are more educated than the seniors of past generations. Sturdier education, they theorize, builds a cognitive reserve that allows people to better maintain their mental function as they age. Physical exercise, regular mental stimulation and social interaction all play important roles in brain health. Researchers theorize that more aggressive regulation of blood pressure and blood sugar may have also played a role in decreasing dementia risk. (2)
High blood pressure is linked to vascular damage of the brain, and high blood sugar is linked to both vascular damage and the deposition of plaque in the brain. This happens as a result of a process of glycation or advanced glycation end products (AGEs). (2) You can measure your glycation levels with a hemoglobin A1C test, which measures how many hemoglobin molecules are stuck to a sugar molecule (glycation). This test can predict your 3-month average blood sugar and if there is excess glycation taking place. The best number is below 5.3%.
Strategies for Healthy Blood Pressure
- Eat regular and relaxed meals.
- Avoid process foods and sugar.
- Exercise regularly.
- Make lunch a bigger meal than dinner.
- Get to bed early, wake up early.
- De-stress with meditation or prayer.
- Maintain optimal levels of vitamin D3 (50-80 ng/mL)
Strategies for Healthy Blood Sugar
Eat regular and relaxed meals.- Avoid processed foods and sugar.
- Exercise regularly.
- Make lunch a bigger meal than dinner.
- Get to bed early, wake up early.
- De-stress with meditation or prayer.
NOTE: If you didn’t notice, the lifestyle strategies are the same for supporting both healthy blood pressure and healthy blood sugar. Learn more about blood sugar in my FREE eBook, Blood Sugar Secrets for Health & Longevity.
Also, I encourage you to learn about how turmeric, ashwagandha, bacopa and fish oils can support healthy brain cell replication.
Elfa says
My mother had dementia and I wish I would’ve had more information on how to have helped her. I am glad to hear that it’s dropped by 24%. Thanks for the strategies you provided.
Elfa
Sand says
I think that the downward rate of diagnosed dimentia is in direct relation to the upward rate of diagnosed alzheimer’s which used to be diagnosed as dimentia. It is very possible that the actual rate of dimentia has not improved.
annette wass says
well dementia is pretty much a catch -all phrase that includes the different kinds including Alzheimers ,surely ?
Leigh says
Dr. John,
I hope you will answer my question, although related to the product linked in this newsletter.
Lymph/Vein HP
I have Lymphoma, and treating naturally, no chemo. Would this product be helpful to me, as I am thinking it will to help drain the lymph? Thanks
John Douillard says
Hi Leigh. Yes the lymph/Vein may help. It is more supportive for micro-circulation. The Lymph Cleanse product is for lymph nodes and Manjistha is for the major lymph vessels and Brahmi Brain is for brain lymphs. Supporting the lymph with Lymph/vein HP may be the right plan but I would ask your primary doctor to be sure. Be well.