Sun Club
BRAIN CLUES

The 11 early signs you could be at risk of dementia after Bruce Willis’ diagnosis – and how to protect your brain

BRUCE Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and there are warnings it could be more widespread than thought.

A statement from the actor’s family said: “For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, it is likely much more prevalent than we know.”

Advertisement
We look at the signs of dementia and how you can help to protect your brain
We look at the signs of dementia and how you can help to protect your brainCredit: Getty
Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD)Credit: demimoore/instagram

Here, we look at the signs of the disease and how you can help to protect your brain.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA? It is a syndrome associated with decreased brain function.

Alzheimer’s Research UK says 944,000 people are living with the disease here and types include Alzheimer’s (the most common), vascular dementia, FTD and dementia with Lewy bodies.

WHAT CAUSES IT? The NHS says many types of dementia are associated with “an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain” which stops nerve cells functioning properly, and they die.

Advertisement

But there’s no single cause, and although it usually affects over-65s, it can also affect younger people.

WHAT ARE THE EARLY SIGNS? Short-term memory loss is a key early symptom – plus mood swings, loss of interest in things the person did, feeling disorientated, making rash decisions, forgetting routes, confusion and finding daily tasks challenging.

People can also suffer issues with their thinking speed, language and movement.

WHAT ABOUT FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA? FTD usually kicks in with people aged 45-65. Symptoms include behavioural changes as well as language problems and sufferers can also be easily distracted.

Advertisement

Most read in Health

DRAW THE LINE
Cocaine addict has slice of her HEAD grafted onto her nose after it collapsed
BREATHE DEEP
Hope for catching Alzheimer's early as how you breathe may hold clues on risk
TRAGIC REACTION
Teen died after partner performed sex act on him & it triggered nut allergy
PARENTS' PANIC
Charliee, 7, fighting for life after suffering stroke on playground slide

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS? There is currently no cure for dementia.

Certain medications and therapies can help, as can support groups such as memory cafes and reminiscence work, where music and old photos are used to boost happiness levels and wellbeing.

HOW TO REDUCE DEMENTIA RISK

Hana Burianová, professor of neuroscience at vitamin and supplement firm Healthspan, has these tips.

MOVE MORE: Being too sedentary leads to poor circulation and poor oxygenation, dysregulation of hormones and neurotransmitters, faster ageing and predisposition to dementia.

Advertisement

SWEET DREAMS: Irregular and insufficient sleep can negatively impact brain health. Prof Burianová says: “If this becomes a regular pattern, there will be a chronic issue having an impact on our brain.”

CALM DOWN: Chronic stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on brain power.

Prof Burianová says: “Stress leads to dysregulation of hormones and neurotransmitters, faster ageing and the decline of neurocognitive functions, which includes poor concentration, memory and emotion regulation and predisposition to dementia.”

HANG OUT: Loneliness really can kill. Spend time with friends and family, or join a club to widen your circle. Prof Burianová says: “Lonely people have twice the chance of dementia due to inertia and a lack of communication.”

Advertisement

BRAIN TRAIN: Help to keep your brain flexible by testing it regularly.

Prof Burianová says: “Try anything challenging that needs concentration, such as puzzles, cooking without a recipe, coming home via a new route, learning a language, taking courses and learning to play a musical instrument.”

Being too sedentary leads to poor circulation and poor oxygenation faster ageing and predisposition to dementiaCredit: Getty
Advertisement
Topics
Advertisement
machibet777.com
Machibet
WEEKLY 77,777 BDT CASH LUCKY DRAW!
18+ | Play Responsibly | gamblingtherapy.org | T&Cs Apply
  • Huge variety of game types
  • Range of Valuable rewards 
  • Bangladesh’s most trusted online casino
Show More
Welcome to MachiBet and discover a huge range of games, from Baccarat to Roulette to Andar Bahar with live dealers, as well as tons of exciting slot games. MachiBet was founded by a group of passionate sports betting enthusiasts with the goal of providing users with the best gaming experience. Over the years, we have collected and analyzed decades of user feedback to create the ultimate gaming platform for our valued customers.