Dementia and the role magnesium plays in it

Where does forgetfulness end and dementia begin?

When such incidents accumulate, they should not be dismissed as mere forgetfulness. Senility comes slowly. First the short-term memory suffers. Short-term memory stores information needed just for a short time, such as an appointment with the hairdresser. In contrast, long-term memory stores that which the brain considers to be of lasting importance. This is why old people can talk for hours about their childhood or the war, but have already forgotten what they just had for lunch. Dementia not only destroys memory and recollection, but over time, also complex skills and abilities. If memory loss progresses, the personality of the person affected gradually alters.

 

The specter of dementia

Dementia is a nightmare for everyone. For some, this idea is so unbearable that they prefer to leave life as long as they are still capable of action. But anyone with a healthy lifestyle can do a lot to prevent this from happening. Even for those who are already ill it is not too late, because an improvement of the ailment is also possible.

Magnesium deficiency and dementia

If you want to grow old healthfully, you can't avoid a mindful lifestyle. A sufficient supply of magnesium belongs to the lineup. Of course, other nutrients in addition to magnesium are particularly important in old age, especially vitamin B12, a deficiency of which also promotes the development of dementia. However, magnesium is considered a key mineral and therefore plays a prominent role in the prevention and treatment of dementia. Diseases that lead to reduced blood circulation and deposits in the brain also promote the development of dementia. So it is not surprising that dementia patients are more likely than others to have a serious magnesium deficiency. A sufficiently high magnesium substitution can halt or slow down the disease onslaught.

Magnesium: The all-purpose weapon against lifestyle diseases

The tension-releasing effect of magnesium on the blood vessels normalizes blood pressure. It blocks and to a certain extent can even dissolve fat deposits and their calcification in the blood vessels. Magnesium is also heavily involved in brain metabolism and is responsible for the regulation of brain stimulation hormones. In general, everyone over the age of 60 should ingest additional magnesium, regardless of his or her state of health. As people get older, they typically eat less and their magnesium intake decreases. At the same time, the body absorbs less magnesium in old age. However, the magnesium requirement remains high. If you want to stay fit physically and mentally in old age, you cannot avoid an additional dose of magnesium.

How magnesium protects against dementia

Magnesium:

- Expands the microvessels in the brain and thus improves blood circulation.

- Relaxes the blood vessels and counteracts high blood pressure.

- Reduces the amount of free fatty acids in the blood and thus their storage in blood vessels.

- Lowers the calcium level in the blood and thus counteracts vascular calcification.

- Supports the adjustment of blood sugar in diabetes.

- Helps to incorporate calcium into the bones and thus strengthens the skeleton.

- Fends off free radicals that are largely responsible for the aging process.