Age-related dementia is often referred to as its most common form – Alzheimer’s disease. However, in reality, it is not a specific disease but a certain set of symptoms. Contrary to popular belief, dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Dementia may not occur even in very advanced age. Dementia can start at the age of 50 or even 40, and this is called early-onset dementia.
Periodically, articles appear in print with lists of tests that can help you avoid serious illnesses and premature death. The idea of preventive medicine has been in the air for a long time, and now it is much easier to implement than before. Necessary basic tests are not expensive, and many of them are even available for free to many people.
Methylation is a vital fundamental biochemical process in the body, linked to detoxifying heavy metals, regulating gene expression, protein functions, and neurotransmitter synthesis. Imbalances in the methylation process result from genetic defects in enzymes that regulate methylation.
In recent years, there has been significant interest in genetic testing, particularly the role of the MTHFR gene. A genetic defect in the MTHFR gene can lead to enzyme MTHFR dysfunction, which can impact methylation.
As of today, breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide, affecting both women and men, although it occurs significantly less frequently in men. It’s worth noting that in Canada, preventive screenings are only conducted for women aged 50 to 75. In men, breast cancer is typically detected either incidentally or when symptoms are reported. Let’s take Canadian statistics as an example. Here are some figures:
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in the walls of cells throughout your body. Your body not only obtains cholesterol from external sources but also produces it on its own. It uses cholesterol to produce hormones, bile acids, vitamin D, and other essential substances necessary for life. If your diet doesn’t contain cholesterol, your body will manufacture all the cholesterol it needs. This means that merely changing your diet is insufficient; you need to simultaneously change your lifestyle. Cholesterol is produced in the liver and performs numerous vital functions. For instance, it helps maintain the elasticity of cell membranes. However, like everything in the body, when there is too much cholesterol or when cholesterol accumulates in the wrong places, it can lead to problems.
A study published back in 2012 by the Conference Board of Canada revealed that smoking is the cause of over 45,000 deaths in Canada each year, accounting for almost 1 in 5 (18.4%) of all deaths in the country. Smoking also results in annual direct healthcare costs of 6.5 billion dollars and total economic costs of 16.2 billion dollars, including healthcare expenses.
High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major contributor to various cardiovascular diseases. According to a recent survey by Statistics Canada, nearly one in four adult Canadians has high blood pressure. That’s about 4.6 million people. This is why regular blood pressure monitoring is so important. High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” — it typically has no symptoms.
