I don't generally tell people about books I read because reading a book is like buying a purse, you need to read what you want and make up your own mind if it is good or not. However there is a book out called Defeating Dementia by Richard Furman. I could not put it down. While there are a few medical terms, I could still understand what was said.
My father is 94 and has dementia, so cruel that his mind is all jumbled up and most days not there. He is also very hard of hearing even with the hearing aids and so conversations are very difficult for him. Half the time he answers what he thinks is said and then he gets a confused look and says I did not answer your question did I? We laugh about it and move on.
The purpose of the book is that you can do a lot to stop yourself from getting dementia by exercising and diet. Gee seems we have heard that before exercise and diet are good for you. I dont excercise, I tell myself I live in a 2 story house with a basement and run up and down the stairs all day and I do yardwork during spring, summer and fall. I don't need to exercise but I am wrong, I don't get an aerobic or cardio workout by taking a load of laundry up the stairs.
Food means i can't eat much I love such as cheese, butter, sour cream, ice cream, pork chops, hamburgers, muffins, pancakes, syrup, jelly, you get the point. Fish, chicken and fruits and vegetables are the diet. The statistics in the book and reading of how the placque is formed to increase the chances of dementia is enough to make me realize I need to do some changes. After watching my father I really don't want to ever get there, that is not living. My dad gets so frustrated cos he can't do much these days, it is just awful and cruel.
If you want to read I suggest to do so but follow through. I see too many of the elders in church getting dementia and it makes me want to go home and hide out so I never have to deal with it again. Plus I don't want my niece to have to deal with me like that.
I know no one is guaranteed not to get something but I am gonna take the chance that I can do some things to try my best to prevent it.
