Preventing Dementia

Jonathan and I were recently in a meeting with the chairpersons of the departments of Neurology from both the University of Chicago and Northwestern medical centers. We were struck by the fact that, although they mentioned a future for medication, both of their presentations emphasized the need to focus on non-medical interventions for dementia.

Finally! After an estimated $42 billion dollars and decades of unsuccessful medication interventions for dementia, the health care field has turned its focus on the role of lifestyle choices in reducing the risk of cognitive decline (see the complete Alzheimer’s Association article).

Last week a singer sent me a link to this CNN video about ways to prevent dementia. The news clip features health care professionals who suggest that 40 percent of dementia can be prevented by lifestyle choices that incorporate physical exercise, social connection, and cognitive stimulation. Our singer said, “Hey, doesn’t our choir tick off several of those boxes on that list?”

A quick Google search yielded several dozen “Dementia-Prevention” lists that vary a bit, but have a number of common recommendations. For example, the Alzheimer’s Association’s, “10 Ways to Love Your Brain” recommends the following (they have cuter titles than this):

Exercise—regular cardiovascular exercise
Learn new things—anything that provides stimulation for your brain
Stop smoking
Eliminate cardiovascular risk factors—high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes have a negative effect on your brain
Prevent brain injury—wear seatbelts, prevent falls
Eat well—a balanced diet that is lower in fat and higher in vegetables and fruit, such as the Mediterranean Diet.
Sleep well—treat insomnia or apnea if you have it
Take care of your mental health—manage your stress, treat depression and anxiety
Stay socially engaged—find ways to be with others, share activities, particularly those that give meaning to your life
Challenge your brain—play games, do a jigsaw puzzle, your favorite arts or crafts

Those of us at Sounds Good and Good Memories choirs would add an 11^th item to the list because I think our singer was correct; singing in a choir ticks off many of those boxes.

Singing helps with preventing dementia because it…

Provides physical exercise (just think of how many times we stand and sit, stand and sit!)
Improves breathing
Challenges our brain with new learning and mastery of complex material
Keeps us socially engaged (give thanks for your singing-buddies)
Contributes (hopefully) to better mental health

Looking at this list reminds me of a quote from Maya Angelou: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” What can you do to decrease your risk for dementia? Can you “do better?”

Start by signing up for our 2023 Fall Sounds Good choir session. Or come to our online Sing-alongs… now in both English and Spanish.

And then pick one of those ten areas on the list and set a modest goal for improvement between now and the end of the year. Maybe you and a buddy could conquer it together!