When the brain begins to shrink, these 3 signs usually appear

Mr. Zhao, 65, has encountered a lot of troubles in the past year. At first, he only occasionally forgot to bring his keys and mobile phone, or couldn't find his clothes . These seemingly ordinary things did not attract his attention. As time went by, Mr. Zhao's memory and calculation ability declined significantly. He couldn't even count the money when buying vegetables. In addition, his reaction became slow when communicating with people, and he often needed to think for a long time before answering questions. These changes made his family very worried. Finally, under the repeated urging of his family, Mr. Zhao came to the hospital.

After a detailed examination by the doctor, Mr. Zhao was assessed as having mild to moderate cognitive impairment and was initially diagnosed with dementia . The doctor explained that dementia is not an independent disease, but a group of clinical syndromes, mainly manifested as intellectual decline and personality changes . Mr. Zhao's symptoms are one of the typical manifestations of brain atrophy.

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What is brain shrinkage?

Brain atrophy refers to the gradual shrinkage of brain tissue as we age or due to other factors, which affects brain function. This process usually occurs in people over the age of 50, and is more likely to occur in men than in women. Brain atrophy can not only lead to decreased cognitive function and personality changes, but in severe cases, it can also gradually lead to the loss of the ability to take care of oneself, seriously affecting the quality of life and even endangering life.

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Three signs of brain shrinkage

1. Cognitive impairment: memory loss and slow reaction

Early symptoms: You may find yourself becoming forgetful, such as often not being able to find things you just put down, not remembering the names of people you just met, or suddenly not being able to remember what to do next when you are doing something.

Mid-term symptoms: As the disease progresses, memory loss becomes more obvious, such as forgetting recent conversations, asking the same question repeatedly, or even not remembering the way home or the names of family members. At this time, you may find yourself unable to complete familiar tasks, such as cooking, shopping, and managing finances.

Late stage manifestations: At this stage, memory is almost completely lost, and there may even be severe cognitive impairment, inability to recognize familiar environments and people, and inability to take care of oneself.

2. Personality and behavior changes: mood swings, early manifestations of social disorders: You may find that you or the people around you are not as cheerful as before, have less interest in things, and appear a little indifferent when interacting with others. Sometimes, there will be mood swings, such as feeling depressed or anxious for no reason.

Mid-term manifestations: Personality changes will be more significant, such as becoming stubborn, suspicious, and even distrusting people around them. In addition, social barriers may occur, and people may be unwilling to communicate with others or even avoid social situations.

Late manifestations: Personality and behavioral changes can reach extreme levels, such as hallucinations, delusions, and even aggressive behavior in severe cases.

3. Movement disorders: unsteady gait and clumsy movements

In the early stage, patients may just feel less flexible when doing some fine movements, such as buttoning, writing, etc. However, as the disease progresses, patients may experience unstable gait, wobbly walking, and even fall easily.

In the later stages, simple daily activities, such as dressing and eating, may become extremely difficult. Severe movement disorders can lead to a complete loss of independence and require round-the-clock care.

How to prevent brain shrinkage?

1. Healthy diet: A balanced diet is essential for brain health. Eat more foods rich in antioxidants, such as citrus fruits, broccoli, carrots and green leafy vegetables , and fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and mackerel . In addition, a moderate intake of nuts, soy products and whole grains can help provide the nutrients needed by the brain.

2. Exercise regularly: Exercise can not only improve physical fitness, but also promote blood circulation in the brain and improve cognitive function. At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day, such as brisk walking, dancing or Tai Chi , are all good choices.

3. Increase social activities

Use your brain diligently: read more books and newspapers, participate in various social activities , and keep your brain active.

Brain exercise: Playing some brain-stimulating games, such as origami, knitting, spinning walnuts, playing chess, etc., can help delay brain aging.

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4. Regular physical examinations: Especially for the elderly, regular cognitive function assessments and comprehensive physical examinations can help detect potential health problems early and take timely intervention measures.