Home Care Assistance – How Does Excess Weight Affect Seniors Brain Functioning
Seniors’ brains can be significantly affected by how much weight they carry. Obesity and being overweight have been linked to several health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Studies also suggest that being overweight can affect how well their brain works and raise the risk of memory loss and dementia. Seniors can learn to manage weight through increased exercise and healthy eating with home care assistance. More information on how weight affects cognitive functioning is detailed below.
A Healthy Weight May Help Seniors Retain Cognitive Functioning
Multiple studies have linked weight to cognitive functioning, but the why is still being tested. Still, after reading the information below, it’s easy to see why helping seniors maintain a healthy weight is important.
Inflammation: Being overweight causes a constant, low-level state of inflammation throughout the body, including the brain. This inflammation can make it hard for brain cells to work normally and stop them from talking to each other. Over time, chronic inflammation can lead to cognitive decline.
Arterial health: Being overweight may increase seniors’ risk of arterial diseases like high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and strokes. These diseases can damage blood vessels in the brain, cutting off blood and oxygen flow.
Insulin resistance and diabetes: Being overweight is a common cause of insulin resistance and can lead to type 2 diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes has already been linked to a higher chance of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, managing the disease is critical. With home care assistance, seniors can learn to manage their condition with proper medication management and healthy meal planning.
Sleep problems: Being overweight is often linked to sleep problems like sleep apnea. Sleep problems and insufficient sleep can make it hard to remember, pay attention, and focus. Chronic lack of sleep can speed up mental loss and possibly increase seniors’ risk of dementia.
Hormonal imbalances: Adipose tissue, which is made up of fat cells, makes hormones and proteins that control hunger, metabolism, and inflammation. The careful balance of these hormones can be upset by being overweight, leading to hormonal imbalances that affect how well the brain works. For instance, high levels of leptin, a hormone that helps control hunger, have been linked to poor cognitive ability.
Psychological factors: Being overweight can also negatively affect the mind, such as low self-esteem, sadness, and withdrawal from social activities. These factors can lead to reduced stimulation, which is known to affect cognitive function.
It’s important to remember that not all seniors who are overweight or obese will have a decrease in their mental abilities. A person’s mental health is affected by many things, such as their genes, their general health, and the choices they make about their lifestyle. However, seniors who want to improve their general health and possibly their cognitive functioning should focus on improving their weight. With the support of loved ones and with home care assistance, this task is easier for seniors to accomplish.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care assistance in Northbrook, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
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