Computer generated transcript

Warning!
The following transcript was generated automatically from the content and has not been checked or corrected manually.

Dementia Helping your brain to stay healthy www.nhs.uk/nhshealthcheck Public Health England •Trouble controlling your mood Why have we written this leaflet? Eat healthily and maintain a or behaviour. For example, feeling healthy weight The NHS wants to help keep people healthy. This could lower depressed, agitated or irritable. A healthy diet will help reduce some their chances of getting dementia – symptoms caused by serious brain disease. If you have these symptoms it may not forms of dementia. Unhealthy eating Many people don’t know that what they do every day can help keep a healthy mean that you have dementia. Other and being overweight can affect the brain. The good news is that it’s never too late to act. things can cause the same symptoms. blood supply to your brain. And this can Whatever the cause, it is best to speak to affect your thinking. a professional. Make an appointment with What is dementia? your doctor or contact the Alzheimer’s Myth 2: Dementia is inherited Aim to eat less sugar and salt. The Dementia affects the way the brain from your parents. Society for more information (contact fat in sausages and processed meats, normally works. This makes it difficult Fact: Dementia is only inherited in details at the end of this leaflet). butter and cakes can increase the to do every-day activities. For example, a very small number of cases. Most risk of heart disease and other health people who have dementia often forget Reducing your risk of problems linked to dementia. Try things or get confused. dementia is not inherited. dementia Myth 3: Alzheimer’s and to eat less of these foods, less fried There are different types of dementia. All dementia are the same thing Your memory and your ability to think food and less sugary sweets and of them interfere with daily life. And all and communicate all depend on your drinks. And eat more oily fish like of them get worse over time. Alzheimer’s Fact: Alzheimer’s disease is the most brain. By keeping a healthy brain you can salmon and sardines and more fruit common cause of dementia. About reduce your chance of getting dementia. and vegetables. disease is one type of dementia. two out of every three people with Dementia affects about 850,000 people dementia have Alzheimer’s. The recommendations below will help in the UK. This is as much as the entire to keep your brain active and healthy. Don’t drink too much alcohol Myth 4: You don’t need to do population of Liverpool and Manchester. physical exercises as long as you Be physically active There are no safe levels for drinking Most older people do not get dementia. do crosswords and Sudoku Being physically active will help reduce alcohol. Drinking alcohol can harm your Fact: It is always good to stimulate brain. Drinking at high levels over time can But those people who are affected your risk of dementia. It will improve how also cause alcohol-related brain damage. are usually over 65. It cannot be cured your mind and your memory. But well you feel. And it will help to keep your but you can reduce your chances of we know that a healthy lifestyle is heart, bones and muscles healthy. Aim getting dementia. Even if someone has the best way to reduce your chance to be active every day for 10 minutes or If you choose to drink: dementia, they can take action to lessen of getting dementia. more. Try not to sit for long periods. • Men and women are advised not the symptoms. to regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week (6 pints of The symptoms of dementia Look for small ways to add more • Forgetfulness For example, trouble movement to your daily life beer or glasses of wine). Myths about dementia remembering what has happened Get off the bus one stop early and • Spread your drinking over three Myth 1: Dementia is inevitable. walk. Walk short distances rather days or more if you drink as much recently or recognising familiar people than take the car. Walk your dog for as 14 units a week. If you are going to get it there is and places. nothing you can do. • Problems planning and doing tasks longer. Take the stairs not the lift. The more you drink above these Fact: Dementia is not inevitable. You you used to do easily. For example, Use your bike to get around. amounts, the more chance you have can act every day to reduce your of harming your brain. chances of getting dementia. Some dealing with money, following a cooking of the things you can do are recipe or writing a letter. If you have mobility problems • Feeling confusedeven in a familiar Walk short distances and build up described later. place. to longer ones. Use a suitable bike. Do chair exercises. Go swimming. • Finding it hard to follow Do some housework. Work in your conversations and losing the thread of what you were saying. garden. Play with your grandchildren.Give up smoking Managing your health Smoking almost doubles your chance Some people may already have a of getting dementia. Smoking is health condition such as high blood very harmful to the heart, lungs and pressure or diabetes. To reduce your circulation of your blood. This can chance of developing dementia it is affect the blood vessels in the brain. really important to manage your By giving up smoking you can reduce health by taking the medicines you’ve the risk of dementia. been prescribed. Find out more It’s never too late to give up smoking. People who quit aged Alzheimer’s Society 60 can add three years to their life. There are trained advisors who can Phone: 0300 222 11 22 Email (helpline): provide information and medication helpline@alzheimers.org.uk to help you to stop smoking. The NHS Smokefree Helpline is free to Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk You can also find out more about call on 0300 123 1044 or talk to your GP or pharmacist for advice. reducing the risk of dementia from Ask about e-cigarettes as a way to Alzheimer’s Research UK in the help you give up. ‘Reducing your risk of dementia’ booklet at: www.alzheimersresearchuk.org Connect with people around you Staying mentally and socially active will improve your personal wellbeing. It could also help to improve your chances of delaying or avoiding dementia. Keeping mentally active by learning new skills or joining clubs can also be a good way to connect with other people and improve mental wellbeing. You could play Scrabble, 2904520 1p Dec 15 1 mill (ANT) cards or bingo, do puzzles, help Produced by Williams Lea for Public Health England your grandchildren with their If you require further copies of this title visit 2904520/Free NHS Health Checkuote homework, join a quiz or darts Tel: 0300 123 1002 team. (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) Local NHS Health Check provider stamp here: