1. Understand Potential Risk Factors
The only way to prevent apraxia is to prevent the neurological event that causes it. The main causes of apraxia are strokes, dementia, brain tumor or lesion and traumatic brain injury. A positive family history of strokes and/or dementia can indicate a higher risk factor for these conditions. Additionally, strokes have a number of physical risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, smoking and alcohol abuse. A past history of another form of cancer or a family history of cancer can increase your risk factor for brain cancer. Those who participate in high-risk sports and activities may also be at increase risk for brain injury.
2. Prevent Underlying Diseases That Cause Apraxia
If you know you have a higher risk of stroke, dementia or brain cancer, there are some steps you can take to try to prevent these diseases. To prevent a stroke, it's important to get your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. This involves eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly (30 minutes a day), and quitting smoking. Your doctor may also prescribe pressure or cholesterol medication if diet and exercise is not enough. If you have diabetes, its important to keep your blood sugar levels controlled. Your doctor can easily diagnose atrial fibrillation (AF). An electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to check the electrical activity of your heart. If you do have AF, your doctor will likely prescribe blood-thinning medication to help prevent a stroke.
Little research has been done into the prevention of dementia, but some studies indicate the preventative value of healthy living. Some studies have shown that those who exercise regularly and participate in leisurely activities have a lower incidence of dementia. Additionally, those who regularly engage their brains in some way (like doing crossword puzzles or brain games) may also lower their risk of dementia.
Preventing primary brain cancer is almost impossible, but there are some steps you can take to prevent secondary brain cancer caused by another type of cancer. For example, avoiding smoking and alcohol abuse can help prevent lung and liver cancer respectively. Getting routine checkups and performing self-exams can help prevent breast and testicular cancer. Avoiding excessive sun exposure and using sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer.
3. Protect Your Head Against Brain Injury
Brain injury is not the most common cause of apraxia, but it is a cause. You can help prevent the type of brain injury that can cause apraxia by taking all necessary safety precautions when participating in risky activities. You should always wear a helmet when biking, riding a motorcycle, skiing or snowboarding, and rollerblading, for example. Likewise, seatbelts should always be worn in a vehicle. You may not be able to prevent an accident that could cause trauma to your head, but you can often prevent serious brain injury by wearing a helmet and a seatbelt.
