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How to modify the 7 risk factors of dementia

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How to modify the 7 risk factors of dementia
26 JanHealth, Lifestyle

Is it possible to delay the onset of dementia and if so, are there things we can do to help us reduce the risk of the disease?

There are seven key risk factors that can be modified to prevent dementia onset and three non-modifiable risk factors that cannot be altered. The risk factors that cannot be modified are your gender, age and genetics (we are not yet able to measure genetic risk for dementia).

The 7 modifiable risk factors to dementia are:

  1. Diabetes (type 2)
  2. Midlife hypertension and high cholesterol
  3. Low education level
  4. Physical inactivity
  5. Obesity in midlife
  6. Smoking
  7. Depression

So, at what age can we make changes to the modifiable risk factors? The answer is ANY age! We should try our best to be healthy at every age: a healthy body is a healthy brain.

What you can do to reduce your risk of dementia

  • Type 2 Diabetes is preventable with diet and exercise. Obesity and alcohol increases your risk of type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle choices can be changed to help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and in doing so, reduce your risk of developing dementia.
  • Physical activity improves sleep, helps control weight, manages cholesterol and blood pressure, and improves mental health.  A lifelong accumulation of exercise can help lead to a greater cognitive outcome. Exercise has a direct effect on the brain by increasing brain blood flow. It can help to improve memory, release necessary hormones and enzymes and is great socially for your mental health and stress reduction. It is never too late to start exercising!
  • Smoking causes health complications and increases your risk of dementia by 70 per cent in older people with every 20 cigarettes smoked per day. Smoking decreases respiratory and vascular function, increasing your risk of stroke and heart disease. Quitting smoking will be one of the best things you can do for your body and brain!
  • Socialising reduces dementia risk and helps to maintain brain function by the frequency and quality of people’s social interaction with friends, family and others.  Withdrawal and depression are the main signs of dementia onset.  Several depression episodes in a lifetime can have a greater impact of dementia occurring, as stress hormones cause damage to parts of the brain. Entering the retirement phase of life restricts social networks and reduces your interactions with others, so at that stage of life, it’s important to increase involvement in interest groups, meet new people, do physical activities and start new hobbies.
  • Education prevents cognitive decline, as education is protective for the brain. Regular mental activity keeps the brain healthy and strong.  Early education in life is important in the development and function of the brain.  It’s important to participate in activities that stimulate cognitive function. For example, learning a new skill, a new language, reading, challenging yourself to learn new things on a regular basis and new leisure activities helps attention, memory, processing and intellect.
  • A healthy diet promotes brain health and decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes.  Alcohol in moderation is okay but if in excess, this will increase your risk of alcohol-related dementias.

It is never too late to start preventing dementia

As we get older we think that certain health complications are unavoidable and hence some people do not take steps to avoid certain risk factors that are preventable or modifiable.

The brain is amazingly adaptable! Change your beliefs, make a plan of action to implement change and monitor your behaviour and make sure to both give and get support from friends and family.

At The Physio Co, we can help your elderly Mum or Dad make positive lifestyle changes, like increasing their activity levels to reduce the risk of dementia.

Dementia is not a normal part of aging.  We can make positive changes to prevent its onset. And remember, it’s never too late!

 

Article written by Karleen Scott (TPC Team Leader / Physiotherapist – SA)

 

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DIRECT DEBIT REQUEST SERVICE AGREEMENT
COMPANY NAME: THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
ADDRESS: 25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
CONTACT DETAILS: 1300 797 793

This is Your Direct Debit Service Agreement with THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ABN: 54120918854). It explains what Your obligations are when undertaking a Direct Debit arrangement with us It also details what our obligations are to You as Your Direct Debit provider. Please keep this agreement for future reference. It forms part of the terms and conditions of Your Direct Debit Request (DDR) and should be read in conjunction With Your DDR authorisation.

Definitions

account means the account held at Your financial institution from which we are authorised to arrange for funds to be debited
agreement means this ment Agreement between You and us.
banking day means a day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a public holiday listed throughout Australia.
debit day means the day that payment by You to us is due.
debit payment means a particular transaction where a debit is made.
direct debit request means the Direct Debit Request between us and You,
us or we means THE PHYSIO C0 AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, (the Debit User) You have authorised by requesting a Direct Debit Request.
You means the customer who has signed or authorised by other means the Direct Debit Request
Your financial institution means the financial institution nominated by You on the DDR at which the account is maintained

  1. Debiting Your account
    1. By signing a Direct Debit Request or by providing us with a valid instruction, You have authorised us to arrange for funds to be debited from Your account, You should refer to the Direct Debit Request and this agreement for the terms of the arrangement between us and You.
    2. We will only arrange for funds to be debited from Your account as authorised in the Direct Debit Request.
      Or
      We will only arrange for funds to be debited from Your account if we have sent to the address nominated by You in the Direct Debit Request, a billing advice which specifies the amount payable by You to us and when it is due,
    3. If the debit day falls on a day that is not a banking day, we may direct Your financial institution to debit Your account on the followrng banking day. If You are unsure about which day Your account has or will be debited You should ask Your financial institution.
  2. Amendments by us
    1. We may vary any details of this agreement or a Direct Debit Request at any time by giving You at least fourteen (14) days written notice
  3. Amendments by You
    You may change* , stop or defer a debit payment, or terminate this agreement by providing us with at least 30 days notification by writing to-
    THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
    Or
    by telephoning us on 1300 797 793 during business hours;
    Or
    arranging it through Your own financial institution, which is required to act promptly on Your instructions.
    *Note: in relation to the above reference to ‘change’, Your financial institution may ‘change’ Your debit payment only to the extent of advising us THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD of Your new account details.
  4. Your obligations
    1. It is Your responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient clear funds available in Your account to allow a debit payment to be made in accordance with the Direct Debit Request.
    2. If there are insufficient clear funds in Your account to meet a debit payment:
      • You may be charged a fee and/or interest by Your financial institution;
      • You may also incur fees or charges imposed or incurred by us, and
      • You must arrange for the debit payment to be made by another method or arrange for sufficient clear funds to be in Your account by an agreed time so that we can process the debit payment.
    3. You should check Your account statement to verify that the amounts debited from Your account are correct
  5. Dispute
    1. If You believe that there has been an error in debiting Your account, You should notify us directly on 1300 797 793 and confirm that notice in writing with us as soon as possible so that we can resolve Your query more quickly, Alternatively You can take it up directly With Your financial institution.
    2. If we conclude as a result of our investigations that Your account has been incorrectly debited we Will respond to Your query by arranging for Your financial institution to adjust Your account (including interest and charges) accordingly. We Will also notify You in writing of the amount by which Your account has been adjusted
    3. If we conclude as a result of our investigations that Your account has not been incorrectly debited we Will respond to Your query by providing You with reasons and any evidence for this finding in writing.
  6. Accounts
    You should check:
    • with Your financial institution whether direct debiting is available from Your account as direct debiting is not available on all accounts offered by financial institutions.
    • Your account details which You have provided to us are correct by checking the against a recent account statement,- and
    • with Your financial institution before completing the Direct Debit Request if You have any queries about how to complete the Direct Debit Request.
  7. Confidentiality
    1. We will keep any information (including Your account details) in Your Direct Debit Request confidential. We will make reasonable efforts to keep any such information that we have about You secure and to ensure that any of our employees or agents who have access to information about You do not make any unauthorised use, modification, reproduction or disclosure of that information.
    2. We will only disclose information that we have about You:
      • to the extent specifically required by law; or
      • for the purposes of this agreement (including disclosing information in connection with any query or claim).
  8. Notice
    1. If You Wish to notify us in writing about anything relating to this agreement, You should write to
      THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
      25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
    2. We Will notify You by sending a notice in the ordinary post to the address You have given us in the Direct Debit Request.
    3. Any notice will be deemed to have been received on the third banking day after posting.

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