Good Lifestyle

In 2020, it was estimated that there were more than 55 millionpeople with dementia worldwide andthis number had to double every 20 years. According to the Alzheimer's association, the term "dementia" refers not only to a disease, but to a range that includes Alzheimer's dementia, vascular dementia, dementia of Lewy's body and Huntington's disease. Butcurrent symptoms arememory loss, Confusion, paranoia and inappropriate behavior, as well as physical deterioration which manifests itself as difficult to stand or walk. Caused by loss or damage to nerve cells and their connections in the brain, the most common forms of dementia are irreversible.

While some offactors that cause dementia are inherent, such as age, family history and heart disease, you can take measures to reduce the probability of cognitive decline. A particular activity has proven to be effective in helping to prevent dementia. Read the rest to discover what you can do to increase the health of your brain.

RELATED:If you don't remember these 4 things, it could be a sign of Alzheimer's disease.

About 36 million AmericansPractice yoga, according to the right body. Practice has long been known as popular activity with advantages that go fromreduce anxiety forImprove your love life, as well as being an effective way toburn calories. The NIH reports that according to a 2012 survey, 94% of adults practice yoga for well-being reasons, 17.5% use activity to treat a state of health and that some people do both.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Now research shows that yoga can also have a deep effect on your cognitive health. "When people think of yoga, they imagine stretching their body in various poses. Although this is true, it also has many advantages for the brain," saidDoreen Cooper, a certified yoga instructor andHealth and life coach. "Yoga can reduce stress and inflammation and improve resilience in lost or damaged genetic material, creating a" more fit brain "."

Most of us know the concept of yoga - an exercise that consists of a yoga carpet,soothing stretching, andElegant poses With fanciful names like "Lord of Pisces" and "half-moon turned". But what are the elements that really define yoga? The National Center for Complementary and Integutive Health (NIH) defines theExtremely popular activity Like "an ancient and complex practice, rooted in Indian philosophy" which began "as a spiritual practice, but has become popular as a means of promoting physical and mental well-being". Yoga, as it is most often practiced, consists of poses, breathing, song and meditation techniques. These components engage different parts of the brain, explains the Institute of Spirit: "Each of these facets Can help the brain establish new connections by stimulating neuroplasticity. ""

RELATED:For more up-to-date information, register for our daily newsletter.

Harvard Health describes yoga as "strengthen [the] parts of the brain that play a key role in memory, attention, consciousness, thought and language" - comparing it to "Halterophilia for the brain. "Cooper agrees:" When you make yoga, your brain cells develop new connections and changes occur in the brain structure as well as the function. Improving mental clarity, awareness, language and even learning new skills is some additional advantages that yoga practice can bring. "Dementia can affect all these aspects of cognitive health, adds Cooper, making yoga an essential part of a preventive care plan.

Studies using MRI analyzes and other types of imaging techniques show the results of yoga on the brain: "People who regularly did yoga had a thicker cerebral cortex (the brain area responsible for the treatment of the Information) and the hippocampus (the brain area involved in learning and memory) compared to non-praticians, ”explains Harvard Health. "These areas of the brain generally shrink as you age, but older yoga practitioners have shown less withdrawal than those who have not made yoga. This suggests that yoga can counter agegive in memory and other cognitive skills. ""

Another aspect of dementia which is affected positively by the practice of yoga is stress, which according to the Institute of Spirit, "turned out to be a strong correlate of Alzheimer's both for people suffering and their caregivers" .Stress and anxiety are linked to "inflammation in the central body and nervous system, hormonal desregulation, the excessive sympathetic nervous system and compromised quality of life". In addition, while anxiety disorders are considered a risk factor for different types of dementia,Repetitive negative thought (RNT) - A stress manifestation - can also make people more likely to feel a cognitive decline.

According to the Alzheimer's association, there are othershabits that you can practice This can help prevent dementia. These include cardiovascular exercise, participation in brain engagement activities (such asLearn a second language), sleeping adequate and choosing to eat a healthy and balanced diet "lower in fat and higher in vegetables and fruits to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline".

RELATED:Eating this food reduces the risk of your Alzheimer, says a new study.