“I’d tell you a joke about dementia, but I just forgot how it goes.”
June is Dementia Awareness Month, a time when we at Hoogland Health Hydro join the global conversation to shine a light on one of the fastest-growing health challenges of our age.
Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, is affecting more families than ever before. Yet the latest research brings real hope: many cases can be delayed, prevented, or managed through simple, everyday lifestyle changes that anyone can start today.
The Rising Tide of Dementia and Its Roots
Worldwide, more than 57 million people are currently living with dementia. Every year, nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed – that’s one person every three seconds.
“It seems that when you have cancer you are a brave battler against the disease, but when you have Alzheimer’s you are an old fart. That’s how people see you. It makes you feel quite alone.” — Terry Pratchett
Projections show this number could reach 139 million by 2050 as populations age. In South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa, the increase is particularly sharp: estimates suggest hundreds of thousands of older adults are already affected, with numbers expected to more than double in the coming decades, potentially exceeding one million cases across the continent by 2050.
It is also important to understand that dementia is an umbrella term. There are many different kinds of dementias, and they often have overlapping causes. These include:
“An elderly person at home is like a living golden treasure.” — Traditional Chinese saying
While ageing is the biggest risk factor, modern life is accelerating the rise. Chronic low-grade inflammation, poor blood-sugar control, vascular issues, and sedentary habits all play a part. Emerging science is also pointing to an important new piece of the puzzle: the health of your gut.
“Never let the brain idle. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.” — George Carlin
The gut-brain axis – the two-way communication highway between your digestive system and your brain – is now recognised as a key player in brain health. When the gut microbiome becomes imbalanced (dysbiosis), it can trigger systemic inflammation, increase intestinal “leakiness,” and allow harmful bacterial products to reach the brain. This can promote the buildup of amyloid proteins, activate brain inflammation, and contribute to the processes seen in Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
“When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.” — North African proverb
How Lifestyle Interventions Can Help – Practical Steps Anyone Can Take
About half of dementia cases may be influenced by modifiable lifestyle factors. You don’t need expensive treatments to protect your brain. Here are simple, evidence-based steps you can begin at home:
1. Feed your gut and your brain
Eat more whole, plant-rich foods – plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fermented foods like plain yoghurt or kefir. These support a healthy microbiome, reduce inflammation, and supply the nutrients your brain needs. Reduce ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and excessive red meat.
“I have a photographic memory… I just forgot to load the film… again.”
2. Move your body every day – especially with weight training
Regular physical activity improves blood flow to the brain, lowers inflammation, and supports the growth of new nerve cells (via BDNF). Weight training (resistance training) has consistently shown some of the strongest benefits for brain health. It helps preserve muscle mass, improves insulin sensitivity, reduces chronic inflammation, and enhances executive function and memory more effectively than cardio alone in many studies.
Practical ways to start:
Even 20–30 minutes, 2–3 times a week, can make a measurable difference. Combine this with brisk walking or gentle swimming for the best overall effect.
“Having dementia is like being a passenger in your own life instead of the driver. And the driver has had one too many.”
3. Try gentle fasting or time-restricted eating
If suitable for you (check with your doctor), eating within an 8–12 hour window daily can help regulate blood sugar, promote cellular repair, and support brain health.
“The problem with Alzheimer’s is that it’s the only disease where the person who has it doesn’t know they have it… and everyone else suffers.”
4. Stretch and breathe
Daily stretching, gentle yoga, or deep breathing balances the nervous system, improves circulation, and improves stress responses – a major driver of brain ageing. Just 10 minutes a day helps.
“Dementia: Nature’s way of making sure you don’t remember how old you are.”
5. Stay socially and mentally active
Regular conversations, learning new skills, reading, or playing games build cognitive reserve that helps your brain resist decline.
Little signs to watch for:
Be alert to subtle early changes such as:
“Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us, but with dementia the pages keep falling out.” — Oscar Wilde
These may indicate mild cognitive impairment – a stage where lifestyle action can still have a powerful impact.
An easy test you can do at home: Download the free SAGE (Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam) from a reputable source such as the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center website. Complete it in 10–15 minutes at your kitchen table, then discuss the results with your doctor. It’s a practical, no-cost way to check memory, reasoning, and other skills.
“Have you ever walked along a shoreline, only to have your footprints washed away? That’s what Alzheimer’s is like. The waves erase the marks we leave behind, all the sand castles.”
Small, consistent changes compound over time. Many people notice clearer thinking, steadier energy, and better mood within weeks.
How Hoogland Health Hydro Can Support Your Journey
For those who can join us, our specialised one-week Neurological Health and Dementia Prevention programme will become available from July onwards. It offers a deeper, personalised experience. It combines targeted assessments to identify early risk markers and give you a practical, experiential prevention and treatment plan you can continue at home.
Day 1 includes:
Thereafter you’ll enjoy daily hydrotherapy cycles for better circulation, supervised fasting windows, targeted weight training and stretching sessions guided by our biokineticists and personal trainers, brain-nourishing meals, and educational workshops. By the end of the week you leave with measurable insights, visible improvements, and a clear, sustainable roadmap.
Whether you visit Hoogland or not, the message this Dementia Awareness Month is one of empowerment. Your daily choices – especially regular weight training, good food, movement, and gut care – truly matter. Start small today and protect your memory, independence, and quality of life for years to come.
If you would like simple home weight-training routines, brain-friendly recipes, or guidance on the SAGE test, our team is happy to share resources. Together, let’s turn awareness into lasting action.