Cognitive skills are essential for effective daily living. Some such mental abilities are: thinking, learning, remembering, reasoning, decision-making, and paying attention. Without these skills, survival in the modern world would be difficult. Hence, when elders, as they age, face cognitive decline, it not only affects those specific skills but also the individuals around them. Cognitive decline refers to a decrease in mental functions like memory, language, and reasoning that can occur with aging, though it can also be caused or worsened by health issues. It exists on a spectrum, ranging from normal aging to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), where symptoms are noticeable but daily tasks can still be managed without assistance, to severe neurocognitive disorders like dementia. [1]

However, despite cognitive decline being imminent, the extent to which it impacts an individual can be reduced. The basics for appropriate preventative care for those with a predisposition to cognitive decline are: regular physical activity, a heart-healthy diet, adequate sleep, and frequent socialisation. Such changes can have a slight improvement in cognitive functioning. 

Preventative care for cognitive decline

There are various degrees of changes, activities, and improvements that the individual needs to implement in order to ensure appropriate care is taken towards their mental functioning and health. Such changes include lifestyle habits, mental and social engagement, as well as health and medical care. 

Lifestyle Habits: 

1. Have a healthy level of blood pressure, ensuring it is not too high or too low. High blood pressure, or hypertension, has harmful effects on the heart, blood vessels, and brain, and increases the risk of stroke and vascular dementia

2. Maintaining low blood sugar and a healthy weight to prevent strain on the heart. 

3. Consuming a nutrient-rich diet with plenty of minerals and vitamins. Shift focus from fast food and carbs to fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, dairy, lean meats, and ensure proper hydration. 

4. Being physically active by engaging in mild exercises which prevent strain on the body, such as walking, yoga and light weight training. 

5. Reduce or stop the use of alcohol and tobacco, as it would keep the physical body and organs functioning for longer periods of time. [2]

Mental Activities: 

1. Staying mentally active by constantly challenging yourself to think more logically and rationally can help reduce cognitive decline. 

2. Puzzles, board games, sorting games and match-three games can also help the brain work fast to solve the given issue.

3. Crosswords, sudoku, and other games of such nature can also help boost one’s cognition.

4. Reading, basic arithmetic, cooking and baking, as well as crafting, can be used as tools to improve cognitive skills. 

5. Learning a new hobby, such as a language or an instrument, can also help prevent such a decline. [3]

Social Engagement: 

1. Socializing with peers, friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues can help engage the individual’s information processing centers of the brain. 

2. Volunteering and interacting with new individuals can help build new perspectives. 

3. Often, interacting with a younger generation can also be stimulating cognitively. 

4. Loneliness, social isolation, and lack of companionship can lead to higher chances of developing severe cognitive decline, such as Dementia. [4]

Health and Medical Care:

1. Appropriate medical precautions, such as regular full-body checks and screenings, can be beneficial in preventing the severe effects of certain physiological disorders. 

2. Chronic disorders such as depression and anxiety may also assist in fast-tracking the speed of the cognitive decline; hence, appropriate measures should be taken to manage the symptoms. 

3. High blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and excessive obesity can lead to an increased likelihood of cognitive decline. [2] [4]

There is no ‘treatment’ to prevent or cure imminent cognitive decline; however, certain measures can be taken to reduce its impact. A multitude of research has been conducted to study the increase in dementia among the population, especially in developed countries. Regular physical activity, minimising chronic issues, an appropriate Mediterranean diet consisting of fruits and fibre, reduction in the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and engaging in social activities can act as resources to reduce the likelihood of developing mild and severe cognitive decline.

References: 

1. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-cognitive-decline-definition-causes-symptoms 

2. https://www.maturitas.org/article/S0378-5122(24)00157-9/fulltext 

3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2738400/ 

4. https://www.alzheimers.gov/life-with-dementia/can-i-prevent-dementia 

5. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-cognitive-decline-definition-causes-symptoms.html 

6. https://states.aarp.org/colorado/5-ways-to-help-reduce-risk-of-cognitive-decline 

7. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/brain-health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults 

8. https://www.physio-pedia.com/Preventing_Dementia_and_Cognitive_Decline