Hello everyone! I hope you’re doing well and finding ways to cope with the short days and cold weather we’ve been experiencing lately. This combination can sometimes take a toll on our mood and energy, leaving us feeling unmotivated, tired or irritable. The good news? We’ve made it through the shortest days of the year, and more sunlight is on its way in the weeks ahead. Now is not the time to feel discouraged. At JH Partners, we’re jumping into Heart Health and Love Month—quite literally with our hearts in hand!
As you know, February often invites conversations about love and caring for others. Staying true to my usual perspective, it’s also a timely opportunity to reflect on care through a prevention lens.
Twelve ways to prevent dementia
Recent research suggests that up to 40% of dementia cases worldwide may be linked to twelve risk factors that can be modified across the lifespan. Many of these risk factors overlap with everyday health promotion strategies that you are likely already aware of:
- Regular physical activity to support cardiovascular health and helps manage blood pressure, diabetes and weight.
- Reduce alcohol intake and quitting smoking to lower the risk of multiple chronic conditions, including cognitive decline.
- Stay socially connected, through community activities, volunteering and informal gatherings like our Brain Power Drop-in. This helps protect mental health and reduce isolation, especially important for older adults.
- Managing hearing loss with proper screening and hearing aids has also emerged as a meaningful, and often overlooked, prevention strategy.
While no single change can prevent dementia on its own, addressing even a few of the above factors can contribute to better brain health over time.
Caring for those who care
For informal caregivers, this information matters on two levels. Caregivers are at higher risk of depression, social isolation and chronic stress — all of which are themselves dementia risk factors. Taking steps to protect your own health is not an added task on an already full list; it is a way of sustaining your capacity to care.
This February, rather than focusing on grand gestures, consider prevention as a practical form of care — informed by evidence, shaped by realistic choices and adapted to your own circumstances. Small, daily actions remain one of the most reliable tools we have to support long-term brain health.
This month, everyone at JH Partners sends love to our dear community. It’s a real privilege to work alongside such inspiring, dynamic and caring people like you. Feel free to reach out to us for suggestions, questions or just to check-in.
Anaïs