What is Cognitive Decline – Causes and Prevention

Aging is one big scary monster that lately everyone’s trying to run away from. Influencers keep promoting methods and products to get and maintain that healthy, youthful glow while, on the other hand, dietitians and nutritionists are promoting healthy and clean eating to keep the body in good shape. So, what’s the whole deal about this no-aging trend?

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Well, many people have grown more conscious about the human body and how aging weakens it. As you grow old, your body begins to change drastically; your skin loses its elasticity, your bones weaken, and your muscles shrink. There is no way to prevent aging – however, you can change your lifestyle to age more gracefully and maintain good health even in your late years.

Exploring Cognitive Decline

While the physical changes your body goes through as it ages are quite evident but what about the changes that come within your body, such as in your brain? Once you start aging, your brain also faces changes that can lead you to have issues remembering things, learning new things, inability to focus, or you are just not able to make your daily everyday life decisions.

Cognitive decline’s leading factor is oxidative stress that works as a catalyst when it comes to age-related cognitive decline and eventually dementia. Oxidative stress is referred to an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals in your body. This leads to tissue and cell damage.

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How to Prevent Cognitive Decline?

While there is no cure for dementia, you must take measures and implement lifestyle changes that can reduce your chances of developing the disease. Fortunately, there’s a way to reduce the risk of CD.

Much research now shows proof that flavonoids are actually helpful in reducing the risk of CD. However, a recent study that included 80,000 middle-aged people on a flavonoid-rich food diet for 20 years, concluded that participants that had more flavonoid-rich foods were less likely to experience symptoms and signs related to CD. Many studies have also shown that moderate exercise can reduce the risks by 20%.

What Are Flavonoid-Rich Foods?

Here is a list of some of the flavonoid-rich foods you can find at your grocery store:

1. Green leafy vegetables
2. Onions
3. Apples
4. Berries
5. Cherries
6. Citrus fruits
7. Soybeans
8. Tea

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Aging is not a bad thing, it shows the stories and experiences your body has lived. Rather than running away from it, you need to embrace it.