Stay Active

Productive people tend to live longer and be more contented - both of which appear to reduce their risk of developing dementia. Hobbies, community and church groups are excellent ways to stay active and engaged.

Nurture Your Spirit

People who develop or maintain a spiritual dimension to their lives - through meditation, prayer, and spending time in nature - tend to have a more positive outlook. Also, the resulting calmness is restful and a good counter-balance to the business and stress of daily life.

Keep Your Sense of Humour

Humour - especially appreciating, remembering, and telling jokes - can be a wonderful form of brain training, and it helps to lift the spirit.

It can also significantly increase your level of hope, reduce pain, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase a sense of well-being, all of which will help improve your mental fitness.

Build Solid Friendships

It is vital to maintain good social connections. Many activities like dancing, chess, playing cards, and Scrabble combine brain stimulus with socializing and are good ways to interact with others and make friends.

Studies have found that friends are even more valuable for good quality social connections than family members. This is especially good news for people who don’t have strong family relationships, or whose families live at a distance.

Treat Depression

Depression, and its close relative anxiety, rob life of pleasure and peace of mind. The benefits of overcoming anxiety and depression will impact you over the long term, as well as providing relief from suffering in the present.

When you are anxious and depressed, your world shrinks and you withdraw into yourself. Long-term depression and chronic stress can have a lasting negative impact on brain health and memory, and may increase your risk of developing dementia.

Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, and some spiritual and naturopathic remedies, have also been effective for some people. If you are concerned about depression, discuss your situation with your physician.

Keep Your Perspective -
Contemplating Past, Present and Future

Spirituality involves a lifelong commitment involving your past, present, and future. The ability to be comfortable with all three time periods is a key to our spirit and emotional well-being.

The power of the past

Remembering where we have been, who we have known, life events, and all we have learned from life experiences, gives our life both substance and anchoring. Capture these memories so you can share them with future generations and, so you can look back when you want to.

The Alzheimer Society of B.C. has an interactive website called Memory Bank – a space where you can share inspiring stories, memories, and ideas.

We believe it is crucial that the loss of memory associated with Alzheimer’s disease does not mean the permanent loss of personal stories that help weave the fabric of our society - stories of love, family, struggle, survival, and triumph.

The power of the present

Being fully aware (mindful) of each precious moment of life ensures that we are open to the opportunities of the here and now. Being mindful increases focus, and concentration; reduces forgetfulness; and lowers the amount of stress we experience.

Meditation and the conscious practice of focusing on what we are doing in the present are important skills to develop.

The power of the future

Optimism is associated with greater mental and physical well-being and longer life. Optimists are happier, healthier and live longer.

The ability to face the future - and project into the future - is a key part of mental fitness. This important ability can be eroded by poor mental and emotional fitness.

Always have a plan for something that you can look forward to, and always treat depression - which will rob you of the ability to look forward with optimism.

Your Spirit

When it comes to maintaining your spirit, there are six areas to focus on: