People say dementia is scarier than cancer. Cancer often has a high cure rate, and even if it cannot be cured, there is enough time to organize one's life and maintain human dignity until the moment of death.

On the other hand, dementia, from its onset, confronts individuals with the worst-case scenario of personality loss. Living as a different person than oneself can be more agonizing than physical death. Particularly, since dementia is a problem that occurs in very sensitive and complex areas of the brain, recovery is inevitably slow. Ultimately, prevention is the best approach for dementia.

Reasons to Pay Attention to Dental Health

Just as not everyone gets cancer even though it is common, dementia can also be sufficiently prevented. However, while the causes of cancer are narrowed down to "nutritional deficiencies" and "excess toxins," the causes of dementia are somewhat broader.

Alzheimer's dementia is a disease where abnormal proteins (such as beta-amyloid) accumulate, gradually destroying brain cells. Then, what is this abnormal protein, and why does it accumulate? While people classify beta-amyloid as a toxic protein, strictly speaking, it is not a toxic substance itself but rather a net that captures toxins.

As people age, the frequency of exposure to gum diseases like periodontitis increases. However, the teeth area is close to the brain, and our brain enters a defensive state with even minor signals. For instance, if bacteria invade through a wound in the gums, our body immediately releases sticky plaque to clear out the bacteria. When people are young, their metabolic systems are robust and quickly process the plaque after it has served its purpose, but as the body ages, its processing speed slows down. Consequently, the misplaced plaque accumulates in various parts of the brain.

The soldiers deployed to capture bacteria end up interfering with signal transmission between brain cells and impairing cognitive function. Our body would not intentionally form plaque to harm us. It is all for self-preservation. Therefore, to prevent dementia, one must pay attention to brushing to avoid gum disease and conserve our body's reserves (enzymes) to remove plaque at any time.

The easiest way to conserve enzymes in daily life is to reduce alcohol consumption and stop overeating, snacking, late-night meals, and fried foods. When the metabolic system is activated, it can also prevent vascular dementia caused by stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

Move Your Legs and Head Diligently

Stimulating the brain also helps prevent dementia. Our brain possesses "brain plasticity," which allows it to reconfigure neural network connections through external stimuli even as we age. This is similar to how meridian therapy helps reduce facial swelling and wrinkles, and how exercise slows down physical aging.

The first brain exercise is stimulation through the teeth. Chewing food or clicking teeth together, a technique called "gochibeop," helps awaken brain neural networks. If teeth have been lost due to gum disease, it is advisable to get implants promptly. Stimulation from implants is also effective for the brain.

Furthermore, frequent walking transmits the impact from the heels to the brain, which benefits brain health. As one gets older, it is better to use public transportation rather than a private car and to walk whenever possible for short distances. It is by no means a coincidence that dementia is common in people who have lost their teeth or their freedom to walk.

Brain activities also help activate brain cells. It is beneficial to continuously use and challenge the brain by learning a new language, visiting new places, learning a musical instrument, cooking, playing games, and reading.

Additionally, tapping the scalp evenly with your fingers directly stimulates brain cells, aiding blood circulation and activating the brain. Consuming foods like walnuts or oily fish, which are beneficial for brain cell activation, is also a good method.

◆ Director Park Chan-young

Director of Eosungcho Korean Medicine Clinic in Sadang-dong, Seoul. He holds a Ph.D. in Korean Medicine from Dongguk University. He gained fame by sparking a detoxification sensation in Korea through appearances on TV health programs such as MBN's "Eomjiui Jwewang" (The King of Thumb). His books include "Treat Atopy and Acne with Eosungcho," "Seasonings are Medicine," and "The Miracle of Detoxification."