Cognitive decline

What is Cognitive Decline?

Cognitive decline refers to a gradual worsening of mental abilities like memory, reasoning, attention, and language. It is a natural part of the aging process, but can be accelerated by medical conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

As we get older, changes occur in the brain that can cause thinking skills to slowly decline. This is known as age-related cognitive decline and is generally mild. Symptoms might include:

• Forgetting recent events or conversations more often


• Taking longer to finish routine tasks and learn new information


• Having more trouble focusing for long periods

More severe issues with focus, memory, decision making and problem solving may indicate mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This condition puts one at higher risk for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Key Risk Factors

Certain lifestyle factors raise the risk for accelerated cognitive decline. These include:

• Lack of regular physical activity


• Social isolation and lack of mental stimulation


• Unmanaged high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol


• Excessive alcohol consumption


• Exposure to environmental toxins


• Traumatic brain injury

Genetics also play a role. Those with a family history of Alzheimer's are at greater risk.

Protecting Brain Health

While some cognitive change is expected with age, one can take steps to maintain sharpness for as long as possible:

• Engage in regular cardio and strength training


• Stay socially and mentally active with puzzles, new hobbies etc.


• Follow a healthy diet focused on fruits, vegetables and whole grains


• Take supplements like fish oil, vitamin E or hormone therapy


• Get good quality sleep and manage stress

For example, Balance Hormone Center offers bioidentical hormone treatments that can help alleviate symptoms of hormonal decline related to perimenopause, menopause, and andropause. Balancing your hormones can sharpen focus and memory.

By understanding cognitive decline and potential solutions, we can better support healthy brains as we age. Small lifestyle tweaks and early intervention for medical conditions can make a big difference.