Is dementia caused by eating? Reminder: 3 eating habits increase the risk of dementia, correct them in time

Like many family members of patients, Ms. Li didn't realize she was sick until she found out that "something was wrong" with her mother. Like many patients, when Li's mother was diagnosed, she had already missed the best intervention period...

1. Family member's self-report: 72-year-old mother repeatedly forgets and is diagnosed with Alzheimer's

My mother is 72 years old this year, and she is still in good health. She usually buys vegetables and cooks at home, and spends her free time with old girlfriends.

One morning, when I was about to go to work, my mother asked me what I would like to eat for dinner. I said I wanted to eat braised pork ribs, and she smiled and said that I would make them for me at night. When I got home from work that day, I found that there was no braised pork ribs on the dinner table. I asked my mother why she didn’t make it, but she said there was no such thing .

After the meal, I opened the refrigerator to get fruit, and found a box of ribs in the refrigerator, so I asked my mother: "You have already bought ribs, why don't you make them for me?" I didn't buy it.

At that time, I was a little angry, and I was too tired to go to work during the day, so I went back to my room to rest, and did not continue to chat with my mother .

The next morning, I woke up and found that my mother was not at home. When I was about to go out, I saw my mother was sweating profusely and walked in with a vegetable basket. My mother excitedly took out a spare ribs and said that she would make braised pork ribs for me tonight.

I felt very strange: "Mom, there are ribs in the refrigerator, why did you buy another one?" My mother didn't believe it, so she opened the refrigerator and asked in surprise, "When did you buy it? Why didn't you tell me?"

It was then that I finally realized that something was wrong with my mother , so I asked for leave to take her to the hospital.

After the examination, the doctor said that my mother was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, that is, senile dementia, and the disease had progressed to the middle stage, and the best time for intervention was missed . When I heard the doctor's diagnosis, my hands trembled, my mind went blank, and I almost cried. Then the doctor prescribed medicine and told me to let my mother take the medicine on time, spend more time with her, and never leave her alone at home.

Stories like this happen in thousands of families. In China, the prevalence of dementia in the elderly is about 8% to 10%, and there are at least 15 million dementia patients, involving tens of millions of families.

2. Is Alzheimer's caused by eating? 3 habits to break

At present, the etiology of senile dementia is not yet clear, but it is generally believed that it is related to brain degenerative diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, heredity, hypertension, diabetes and other factors. Related studies have found that Alzheimer's is also related to diet, especially the following three bad eating habits, which may increase the risk of Alzheimer's.

1. Like to eat foods rich in heavy metals

A large number of studies have pointed out that heavy metals such as lead, aluminum and mercury can poison brain cells, and the greater the exposure, the higher the incidence of mental decline and dementia. In the daily diet, foods with high content of heavy metals such as lead, aluminum, mercury, and copper are contaminated fish and shellfish. It is recommended that when purchasing food, you must go through formal channels.

2. Like to eat salty

The research of the international first-class journal "Cell Report" shows that eating too much salt for a long time will cause blood vessel pressure, neuron hyperactivity, lead to excessive brain hypoxia, tissue damage, and increase the risk of dementia. Long-term high-salt diet can not only induce high blood pressure, but also increase the risk of brain region diseases such as depression and neurodegenerative diseases (such as cerebral ischemia, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease).

3. Like to drink

A study in the medical journal "Molecular Neurobiology" revealed that frequent and heavy drinking can lead to abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein and loss of its normal biological function, thereby accelerating the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease and making the symptoms more severe.

3. Seize the Golden Treatment Opportunity

Due to insufficient awareness of the disease, many patients miss the golden opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment. Early Alzheimer's disease mainly has the following manifestations:

Poor memory : recent memory loss, unable to remember what happened in front of you;

Decreased language function : Decreased language function, unable to call the names of acquaintances, unable to pronounce previously recognized words, and unable to express meaning when speaking;

Hearing loss : Some patients have hearing loss, which is easily overlooked;

Big mood swings : patients experience anxiety, big mood swings, and even sudden temper tantrums;

Four, 5 kinds of nutrients are beneficial to the brain, eat more appropriately

Dr. Brennan, an American health care expert, proposed that diet can affect the health of the whole body, especially the brain, and certain foods and nutrients can help keep the brain healthy. E.g:

1. B vitamins

B vitamins like folic acid and vitamin B12 are involved in the synthesis of brain chemicals, as well as energy conversion. If the body is deficient in B vitamins, it can lead to nerve damage, forgetfulness, depression, learning difficulties and confusion. Common foods rich in B vitamins include milk, animal liver, grains and beans .

2. Vitamin E

Vitamin E can reduce the natural destruction of brain cells in the body. If there is insufficient vitamin E in the body, it may lead to muscle weakness, poor stability and coordination, and sensory nerve damage. Lean meat, spinach, cabbage, kiwi fruit, almonds, corn oil and other foods contain more vitamin E.

3. Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain development as they are the building blocks of brain cells and assist in the functioning of the nervous system. Lack of Omega-3 fatty acids may cause decline in memory, concentration and learning ability. In addition to seafood such as salmon and sardines, foods such as cauliflower, tofu, and flaxseed are not low in Omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Antioxidants

Antioxidants help protect brain cells and also help improve memory loss and inflammation. Some fruits and vegetables contain more antioxidants, such as tomatoes, grapes, cauliflower, blueberries, etc.

5. Choline

Choline protects nerves and makes brain chemicals that, if deficient in choline, can trigger memory-related problems. The human liver can produce choline, but it is not enough to meet the demand, so it must be obtained from food. Choline-rich foods include eggs, milk, beef, mushrooms, peanuts, and cruciferous vegetables .

If the elderly at home have related symptoms, they can be taken to the hospital for examination, and the onset and progress of Alzheimer's can be delayed through early intervention and staying away from risk factors.

References:

[1]What to Know About Foods for Brain Health，WebMD，Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on March 29, 2021

[2] Do you have a high risk of dementia? Do these 8 things well and hit the pause button! .Health Times, 2021-09-21

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