Eat to Cheat Dementia
8 June 2016, 12:00AM
Ngaire Hobbs
More than 350,000 Australians are living with dementia. Worldwide, the number is close to 47 million. Indeed if dementia was a country, the enormous costs involved in treating and caring for those affected would make it the world’s 18th largest economy.
In her latest, groundbreaking book, specialist dietitian and author Ngaire Hobbins unravels the complex science of nutrition and its links to brain health, cognitive decline and dementia, in language for the everyday reader.
“The science is clear,” Ngaire says.
“What you eat has a powerful influence on your brain both in terms of providing the resources for peak function and what is needed to protect it from the cell damage that could contribute to dementia.”
“While we don’t yet know what causes dementia and there’s no known cure, there are things we can do to reduce our risk of developing the condition and, importantly, to ensure that those who have it can live as well and productively as possible.”
Eat to Cheat Dementia explains for every-day readers and health professionals alike what we know about preventing dementia and offers practical advice to help those either living with the condition or who are caring for someone who has it:
- What can you eat to boost brain function?
- How does food influence the extraordinary interplay between gut bacteria and our brains?
- How are diabetes and dementia related?
- What foods help reduce the inflammatory and oxidative damage that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia?
It examines many well-publicised foods and diets and provides the facts on what is likely to work and why as it shares practical advice and eating suggestions designed to boost brain health.
In short, Eat to Cheat Dementia offers people living with the condition and those who care for them vital guidance on how to live life well.
“Far too often, the power of nutrition to help maintain independence and quality of life is overlooked following a dementia diagnosis,” Ngaire says.
“Nearly half of all people with the condition will have lost weight over the year prior to their diagnosis.”
“If this is allowed to continue unchecked, ongoing weight loss and the associated muscle reduction will accelerate the cognitive decline and physical frailty that can lead to a premature move into assisted care.”
“Those diagnosed with dementia can enjoy many years of independence, and my goal in writing this book has been to ensure they have every chance to LIVE those years to their fullest.”
“Food is the one thing over which individuals, their family, friends and carers can have some control, yet too often it is overlooked following a dementia diagnosis.”
“Food and shared meal-times not only bring joy and comfort but support both physical and cognitive health.”
Eat to Cheat Dementia is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting the facts about eating to maximize brain health and provides those living with a diagnosis of dementia practical, sensible strategies to allow good food to remain an integral part of a life well-lived.
What’s normal, what’s not and what to eat to support both body and brain; the influence of bodyweight, diabetes and all-important activity levels; the impact of inflammation and oxidative damage; the fascinating, emerging science of the effect on brain health played by the microorganisms that live naturally in the human gut, and much more.
Eat to Cheat Dementia guides people living with dementia and those who care about them to an understanding of the possible problems cognitive issues can raise and how those issues can be dealt with so that eating and meal-times continue to bring enjoyment as well as sustenance.
The result is not only a far better quality of life for all concerned but also significant savings to the health system flowing from reduced hospital admissions and the delayed move to assisted care.
About the author
Ngaire Hobbins is a specialist dietitian and author who is absolutely passionate about helping those moving into their later years to continue enjoying vibrant, productive lives – dementia or not.
An experienced, relaxed and well-informed public speaker and educator, Ngaire
provides insight, guidance and advice on the important links between nutrition and neuroscience in her trademark engaging and easy-reading style.
Eat to Cheat Dementia follows Ngaire’s internationally successful book, Eat to Cheat Aging.
Some relevant facts
- Worldwide there are 46 million people living with dementia at present with an estimated new diagnosis every 3.2 seconds!
- In Australia currently more than 350,000 people are living with dementia with another 1.2million involved in the care of those people.
ALL people diagnosed with dementia and ALL those involved with their care stand to benefit immensely from appropriate nutrition advice that supports independence and quality of life. Yet the essential role of good food and nutrition support is often under-recognised.
Weight loss in older people and in those diagnosed with dementia is a sign that essential body muscle has been lost. As little as 5% loss of body muscle (around 5-10kg in someone 65+) can impact not only cognitive ability, but immune function, body organ maintenance and wound repair. All conspire to rob people of independence and can result in a move into assisted care well before cognitive issues might otherwise require it. The World Alzheimer’s Report in 2014 (by Alzheimer’s Disease International) found that nearly 50% of people diagnosed with dementia have already lost significant weight when diagnosed.
People living with dementia – especially if that is younger onset dementia – are doing just that – LIVING - and appropriate nutrition support allows that to continue as long as possible.
The result is not only a far better quality of life for all concerned, but also significant savings to the health system resulting from people remaining living well at home longer, reducing hospital admissions and delaying the move into assisted care.