Half of all dementia cases could be prevented if people adopted healthier, more environmentally friendly lifestyles, a study will reveal this week.
A landmark paper to be published on Wednesday will reveal that it is easier for people to protect themselves from disease than many believe.
The Lancet Commission on Dementia will list 14 environmental and lifestyle factors that can be modified to reduce the risk of dementia.
Almost half of dementia cases are expected to be due to these factors.
By eating less, staying active, eliminating alcohol and cigarettes, and exercising the brain, it is possible for people to take their destiny into their own hands even if they have a high genetic risk.
Half of all dementia cases could be prevented if people adopted healthier, more environmentally friendly lifestyles (file image)
One lifestyle change that could reduce the risk of dementia is cutting out alcohol and cigarettes (file image)
A separate study presented at the same conference yesterday showed that a new blood test could predict Alzheimer’s with 90 percent accuracy, which is more precise than current methods.
The breakthrough could help improve diagnostics, allowing more patients to access new drugs that are more effective when taken in the early stages of the disease.
Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘People still think dementia is inevitable – there’s this idea that you either get it or you don’t, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
“But there are things you can do throughout your life to reduce your risk of dementia and enable you to live a longer, healthier life.”
The latest update will be announced at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia.
Eating less and staying active is another lifestyle change that could help people avoid dementia (file image)
It is possible for people to take their destiny into their own hands even if they have a high genetic risk (file image)
Previous research published in The Lancet found that 50 percent of French adults with early-onset dementia also had a history of alcohol use disorder.
The previous edition of the Lancet Commission, published in 2020, listed 12 modifiable risk factors: blood pressure, obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise, diabetes, brain injury, social isolation, hearing loss, depression, keeping the brain active and air pollution.
The weight of scientific evidence in this area has grown in recent years and the new report is expected to go further, the Sunday Times reported. It will add two new health and lifestyle risk factors and call on governments to intervene at an earlier stage to help people reduce their risk.
Neuroscientists have found that using the brain for abstract, higher-level thinking throughout life provides protection against some aspects of dementia.
The theory that this “cognitive reserve” can help people prevent dementia, particularly in the early stages, has sparked a wave of “brain training” apps and programs.
Nearly a million people in the UK are believed to have dementia, with diagnoses at a record high, according to data published last week.
In at least 40 percent of cases, the onset of dementia could be delayed or completely prevented with lifestyle changes, research has found.
This week’s report is expected to suggest that in at least 40 per cent of cases the onset of dementia could be delayed or prevented altogether with lifestyle and environmental changes.
Sarah Kennedy, 54, from Orkney, left her job as a housing support agent to support her two parents with dementia.
She said: ‘I never want my children to have to experience what I experienced with my own parents.
“They have been married for almost 60 years. It has been a very strong and loving marriage, but they don’t really know each other now.” Her genetic heritage means she is at higher risk of developing the disease, but she is determined to do what she can to reduce it.
He added: “There is a huge opportunity here because the world has changed in the last ten years when it comes to dementia science, but I don’t think our healthcare system has caught up.
‘We are currently trying to treat and support people in the later stages of this disease, often when they are at a critical point.
“We need to rethink this situation, and I think prevention is key,” she said, calling for the NHS to do much more to educate patients about the link between dementia and other broader health factors.
“We need to do a little reset on how we do things,” he said.
“People think it’s a matter of fate, but in reality there are things that can be done. Looking ahead, the important thing is what I can do for myself and my children.”
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of neurological disorders.
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking, and behavior.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global concern, but it is most commonly seen in wealthier countries, where people are more likely to live to a very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are currently more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this figure is expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting 50 to 75 percent of people diagnosed.
In the United States, it is estimated that there are 5.5 million people suffering from Alzheimer’s and that percentage is expected to increase in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of developing dementia.
Diagnosis rates are improving, but many people with dementia are still thought to be undiagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow its progression, and the earlier it is detected, the more effective the treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society