Reduce Risks to Cognitive Health

Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors are all thought to influence cognitive health. Some of these factors may contribute to a decline in thinking skills and the ability to perform everyday tasks such as driving, paying bills, taking medicine, and cooking.

Genetic factors are passed down (inherited) from a parent to child and cannot be controlled. But environmental and lifestyle factors can be changed, particularly those you can control yourself. These factors include: 

• Health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and depression
• Brain injuries
• Some medicines, or improper use of them
• Lack of physical activity
• Poor diet
• Smoking
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Sleep problems
• Little social activity and being alone most of the time

Health Problems

Many health conditions affect the brain and pose risks to cognitive function. These conditions include:

• Heart disease and high blood pressure—can lead to stroke and changes in blood vessels related to dementia
• Diabetes—damages blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain; increases risk for stroke and heart attack; associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's
• Alzheimer's disease—causes a buildup of harmful proteins and other changes in the brain that leads to memory loss and other thinking problems
• Stroke—can damage blood vessels in the brain and increase risk for vascular dementia
• Depression—can lead to confusion or attention problems; has also been linked to dementia
• Delirium—shows up as an acute state of confusion, often during a hospital stay, and is associated with subsequent cognitive decline

It's important to prevent or seek treatment for these health problems. They affect your brain as well as your body!