Dementia in older women: a problem that goes unnoticed | Top Vip News

Dementia is one of the leading causes of poor quality of life worldwide. It is a general term used to describe symptoms such as decreased memory, cognitive skills, reasoning, and thinking quotient. Almost 60-80% of all dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Cases of dementia are increasing every year and are expected to affect almost 130 million people worldwide by 2050. And, to the surprise of many, cases are disproportionately higher in women. And there is still not as much talk in Women’s Health as breast cancer, which affects the same number of patients each year.

According to the UK Alzheimer’s Research Group, the risk of developing dementia in women over 60 is twice that of breast cancer. Of the 850,000 dementia patients in the UK, more than five are women. The risk doubles every 5 years after age 65.

Although there are many factors that contribute to this increased risk in women, age is one of the most important reasons. Women tend to live longer than men and therefore live with dementia in old age. The rate of physical exercise, changes in blood pressure and hormonal reasons (estrogens) are also some of the factors that contribute to this increased risk in women. One more reason is her role as a caregiver. In most low- and middle-income group countries, almost 90% of professional and family caregivers of patients with dementia are women. They receive less support during this time and this isolation is one of the main risk factors leading to the decline of their memory and thinking skills.

The goal is to promote brain health among women and raise awareness about dementia in the pink genre. Although there is still no cure for this disease, some basic lifestyle changes can help reduce the chances of developing this disease in women.

1. Healthy diet
   A balanced diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins is known to be antioxidant and helps promote brain health.
2. Exercise
   A regular exercise routine of 30 minutes of walking at least 5 times a week is known to help blood circulation and prevent cognitive decline.
3. Obesity
   All researchers have found a direct link between the hip/waist ratio and dementia. With a healthy lifestyle, especially after pregnancy, women should maintain a normal body weight to reduce their chances of developing dementia.
4. Substances
   Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are linked to deteriorating brain health.
5. Sleep
   Chronic sleep deprivation is known to lead to an increased risk of developing dementia and other diseases. Women should aim to achieve 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night.
6. Regular health check-ups
   Women are known to fail to comply with their own preventive health checks. One research even showed that women are 46% less proactive in their own health management compared to caring for their partner or family members. Every woman should see her doctor once a year to rule out any medical condition.

It is essential to raise awareness about dementia in women, since the majority of these cases are not diagnosed and when diagnosed later they are in an advanced state. We must work to strengthen home care for patients with dementia since 52% of caregivers are family members (and the majority are women) who need physical, psychological and emotional support during this phase. Training caregivers and involving professional staff helps relieve stress for family members and improve overall quality of life.