Can your eating habits and physical and mental activity lower your risk for developing dementia as you age? Yes, it is important to learn all we can about how health habits affect the risks for developing dementia, a debilitating decline in memory and other mental abilities. Experiencing cognitive decline means you are having episodes of memory loss or confusion that are getting worse or becoming more frequent. Cognitive decline can lessen your ability to perform everyday activities, such as taking medication, bathing, cooking and cleaning.