It's sad when someone you love can't recognize your voice over the phone. Sadder still if they tell you they can't remember you. But if you're talking to someone you love and he turns and looks at you blankly, it's not sad anymore but tragic. This is what 12 million individuals are experiencing now. Dementia and its variations have been felt in society since the age of medical advances. If dementia and the pain that comes with it are payments for having a longer life, it's a bad deal. It's no good living when you don't even know yourself or the persons who love you.

Dementia, a Latin word which means "irrationality," denotes brain cell degeneration and brain dysfunction. *Alzheimer's disease* is a variation of dementia. The disease is a burden, not only for the people who have it, but also for their families and friends. Dementia reduces the quality of people's lives by restricting their mobile functions and affecting their social relationships. Persons afflicted with dementia have reduced memories and have a tendency to be forgetful. Common symptoms of dementia include temporal and spatial disorientation, language problems, and mood swings. In advanced cases of dementia, patients often have difficulty in recognizing numbers and making sound judgments. Since people with dementia are incapable of taking care of themselves, their families shoulder the burden of caring and providing for them. According to medical experts, the risks of developing dementia increases with age. Studies also show that the risks of having dementia increases by 2-20% as soon as a person turns 60. From this perspective, the battle against dementia seems like a lost cause.

However, researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institute came up with a breakthrough about the relationship of the disease to people's lifestyles. The researchers claim that they have identified triggers, which lead to dementia during middle age. These triggers include obesity, inactivity, high blood pressure, increasing cholesterol levels, and education. Miia Kivipelto, a researcher from the institute, says that lifestyle changes and controlling these triggers are the means to offset dementia. The study proves to be a valuable asset in the area of medical advances because dementia is incurable. Prevention is our only hope against it.

The findings of the studies are practical with a load of common sense. The prevention method it suggests are not difficult at all to put in practice. Obesity, cholesterol, and high blood pressure are also causes of heart disease. These factors cause blood clots and reduce the amount of nutrients, blood flow, and oxygen to the brain. Inevitably, these shorten the life span and promote damage of the brain cells. Kivipelto explains that by eating a balanced diet and avoiding fatty foods, dementia can be prevented along with heart diseases. Regular exercise is also recommended by the research. Movements trigger the repair of brain cells that control motor skills. This enhances the regenerative properties of the brain cells. Exercise also keeps the heart healthy for efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain cells.

Even if education seems like the odd man out among the possible triggers of dementia, it makes perfect sense. The research found out that dementia and Alzheimer's disease are more common in people who have not completed higher education. People who have demanding jobs that require strategic thinking are also found to have minimal risks of developing dementia. Engaging in mind exercises, like puzzles and crosswords, also lessen risks of having Alzheimer's disease. In effect, it is the level of mind activity that determines the risks of dementia. The more active a person's brain works, the healthier his brain cells are. Healthy brain cells promote better brain function and regeneration which are crucial in preventing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Battling dementia is an uphill battle. People with dementia, or with symptoms of dementia, need all the help they can get to make their climb. For those who are fortunate not to have the disease, vigilance against the disease is a must. Steps to prevent the onset of dementia are simple and do not require drastic lifestyle changes. The fight against dementia starts with small steps. The researches and medical advances have taken the first step. It's up to us to follow through the path they made. Memories are too precious to leave to chance.