Cognitive decline - Vitality Wellness Clinic

What is Cognitive Decline?

Cognitive decline refers to a gradual worsening of brain functions like memory, reasoning, attention, language, problem solving, planning, judgment, and decision making over time. It is a natural part of the aging process, but can be accelerated by medical conditions or lifestyle factors.

The most common form of age-related cognitive decline is mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which causes noticeably worse memory and thinking skills than normal aging, but not severe enough to interfere greatly with daily life. Around 15-20% of people over 65 have MCI. Some, but not all, people with MCI later develop Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.

Early Signs and Risk Factors

Look out for these early red flags of cognitive decline:

• Forgetting recent events or conversations
• Having trouble with familiar daily tasks like driving routes, managing finances, or remembering appointments
• Taking longer to complete routine jobs, solve problems, or process information

Risk factors include:

• Advanced age
• Family history of Alzheimer's
• Cardiovascular disease and diabetes
• Lack of physical and mental activity
• Traumatic brain injury
• Heavy alcohol use

Maintaining Brain Health

While some cognitive change comes naturally with aging, you can take steps to maximize lifelong brain health:

• Eat a healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, nuts and olive oil
• Exercise regularly - aim for 150 minutes per week of moderate activity
• Get good sleep, around 7-9 hours every night
• Stay mentally active with challenging games, hobbies and social interaction
• Manage stress through meditation, yoga or spending time in nature
• Limit alcohol intake

If you notice persistent decline in your thinking abilities, schedule a medical checkup. Early intervention can help identify reversible causes like medication side effects, sleep apnea or depression, and treat underlying issues to delay further progression. Your doctor may also prescribe nootropic supplements or hormone therapy at our clinic to enhance cognition.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I'm happy to help you take proactive steps for lifelong brain health.