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Dementia: It's Not Just Ageing
15 Aug
Summary
- Dementia is a decline in cognitive function, not normal aging.
- High blood pressure can cause vascular dementia via small strokes.
- Smoking damages blood vessels and brain cells, increasing risk.
Cognitive decline that disrupts daily life should not be attributed to normal aging, as it may signal dementia. This condition affects memory, communication, and behavior. Dementia is defined as a decline in cognitive functioning due to brain abnormalities or damage, not an inevitable aspect of growing older.
High blood pressure is a significant risk factor, often leading to vascular dementia by reducing blood supply to the brain and causing small strokes. Other contributing factors include diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, high cholesterol, and prior brain injuries.
Smoking exacerbates dementia risk by damaging blood vessels, increasing blood pressure, and introducing toxins that harm vessel linings. These effects, along with smoking-related oxidative stress, can contribute to changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
