Activate brain to avoid dementia
By Kim Bo-eun
Some 530,000 Koreans are suffering from dementia, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in July. With Korea rapidly becoming an aging society, the number is expected to continue to rise.
The report showed the cost for treating dementia amounts to 810 billion won ($721 million) a year, or 3.1 million won per person each year.
Due to high stress levels, younger people are also becoming more susceptible to the disease which has long been associated with the elderly.
Dementia patients in their 30s and 40s have increased by 40 percent to 1,221 in 2011 from 876 in 2006, according to the National Health Insurance Corp.
The commonly known type is Alzheimer’s disease, which develops as one ages. When brain activity declines with age, it is unable to perform its usual functions. The other type is vascular dementia, which occurs as brain functions decline due to the clogging of arteries.
Although the latter is also mainly caused by aging, high-blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and unhealthy lifestyles contribute as well.
Although measures can be taken to delay the progress of cognitive impairment, no cure has yet been discovered.
Tips for preventing dementia
The ministry has come up with a set of guidelines to prevent and manage dementia.
The first tip is to use your motor skills as much as possible. Writing by hand instead of typing is a good way to utilize those skills.
Second, activate the brain by doing little exercises such as trying to remember past events. Keeping a diary can be a useful way to do this.
Third, develop healthy eating habits. Drink at least six cups of water a day; try to eat more fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, and nuts. Avoid overeating, excessive caffeine intake, and too much meat and fatty foods. Stay away from salty and spicy dishes, as they increase the risk of developing conditions leading to dementia.
Exercise is another important must-do. Walk or run until out of breath for at least 30 minutes, twice a week or more.
Next, keep away from unhealthy habits such as heavy drinking or smoking. Excessive drinking damages brain cells, leading to memory loss. According to the National Health Insurance, 10 percent of young people diagnosed with dementia had developed it due to excessive consumption of alcohol.
Meet people and socialize. Take part in community activities such as volunteer work. Avoid being alone and keep interacting with others.
Visit health care centers from time to time to get checkups. Prevention is better than cure, but if already developed, early detection is vital. This is because when found early, development can be delayed. And the more severe conditions become, the more expensive treatment becomes.
Constant vigilance over possible signs of memory loss as well as regular visits to community health centers may be the best safeguard against minimizing the possibility of the devastating effects of the illness.