Elderly Women’s Dementia: An Unrecognized Problem

One of the main causes of low quality of life around the globe is dementia. It’s a catch-all word for symptoms including deteriorating thinking quotient, memory, cognitive abilities, and reasoning. Alzheimer’s disease is the root cause of between 60 and 80 percent of dementia cases.

The number of people affected by dementia is predicted to increase annually to about 130 million by the year 2050. Furthermore, surprisingly for many, the incidence is disproportionately greater in women. Furthermore, it still receives less attention in the field of women’s health than breast cancer, which claims the same number of lives annually.

According to the UK-based Alzheimer’s Research Organisation, women over 60 have double the chance of having dementia compared to breast cancer. Five lac or more of the eight,50,000 dementia sufferers in the UK are female. After 65, the danger increases every five years.

Age is one of the main causes of this increased risk in women, despite the fact that there are numerous other factors as well. Because they often outlive men, women experience dementia in their later years. Some of the contributing variables to this higher risk in women include changes in blood pressure, the ratio of physical activity to rest, and hormonal factors such as estrogen. Their function as caretakers is another justification. Women make up about 90% of the professional and family caregivers for dementia patients in the majority of low- and middle-income countries. During this period, they get less assistance, and being alone is one of the main risk factors contributing to the deterioration of their cognitive and memory abilities.

The goal is to raise awareness about dementia in the pink gender and to support women’s brain health. While there is currently no known treatment for this illness, women may reduce their risk of acquiring it by making a few simple lifestyle adjustments.

a nutritious diet
It is well recognized that a diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein may aid to maintaining brain health by acting as an antioxidant.

Exercise: It is well established that regular exercise, such as a 30-minute walk five times a week, improves blood circulation and guards against cognitive decline.

Researchers have discovered a clear connection between dementia, obesity and the hip/waist ratio. Women may lower their risk of dementia by maintaining a normal body weight and leading a healthy lifestyle, particularly after giving birth.

Materials
Deteriorating brain health is associated with smoking and binge drinking.

slumber
Long-term sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased risk of dementia and other diseases. Every night, women should aim for 7-8 hours of good sleep.

routine medical examinations
It is well known that women often neglect to schedule their own preventative medical exams. According to a study, women are 46% less likely to take the initiative to have their own health checked than they are to take care of their partners or family members. In order to rule out any medical concern, every woman has to consult her doctor once a year.

Raising awareness of dementia in women is crucial since the majority of these instances go untreated and are discovered after the disease is well advanced. Since 52% of caregivers for dementia patients are family members—and the majority of them are women—we must focus on bolstering home-based care since, at this stage, they need physical, psychological, and emotional support. Improving the overall quality of life and relieving family members of their stress are achieved through professional staff involvement and caregiver training.