Warding off stroke helps fight dementia, too

From 1902 to 1912, shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers and first baseman Frank Chance were a doubleplay dream team, anchoring the infield while the Chicago Cubs won four National League pennants and two World Series championships.

Now medical science has discovered a new type of double play: if you work to strike out strokes, you also can knock out dementia. In 2000, Ontario put a stroke prevention program into play. A new study shows that between 2002 and 2012, stroke rates in Ontario went down for folks over 80 an amazing 38 per cent. The researchers also observed that there was a 15 per cent decline in dementia rates in people over 80. That suggests that the steps people took to lower their risk of stroke probably helped stave off some types of dementia. Or, having a stroke puts you at higher risk of dementia – so fewer strokes means less dementia.

Either way, make your double play and get stroke and dementia off your home plate:

■ Stick with a diet rich in produce, olive oil and nuts, whole grains and lean proteins.

■Eliminate inflammation triggering added sugars and syrups – and artificially sweetened beverages and foods, also associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke and dementia.

■ Keep blood pressure at less than 120 over 80; high blood pressure damages your circulatory system. It’s the No. 1 cause of strokes.

■ Don’t smoke. Smoking also damages your circulatory system.

■ Shoot for at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly to lower lousy LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune in to “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www.sharecare.com.