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A Quick Guide: Nine things that can affect whether you get Dementia
Dementia is by no means an inevitable result of ageing. In fact, one in three dementia cases can be prevented.
The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention and Care analyzed a number of studies, and a model was developed that shows how lifestyle changes, at different ages, can reduce a person's risk of developing dementia. They considered potentially reversible risk factors from different life stages – not just old age.
Let's have a look at the nine lifestyle factors that may reduce, or increase, an individual's risk of developing dementia.
Each of these factors could help prevent or delay dementia.
Childhood education
Exercise
Be socially active
Stop smoking
Manage hearing loss
Depression
Diabetes
High blood pressure and
Obesity
Dementia is the greatest global challenge for health and social care in the 21st century – and the greatest fear of most people. People are living longer, and dementia is mainly a disease of old age, which means that rates are going up. In some countries, such as the UK, US, Sweden and the Netherlands, dementia is already being delayed for years in those with more education, so the proportion of older people living with it has decreased, although more people have dementia, simply because there are more old people. In many other countries, the proportion of older people living with dementia has increased.
Of course, not everyone will be able to make changes, some changes will not make a difference and some dementia risk is genetic (about 7% of cases) and not currently modifiable. Nonetheless these interventions should delay dementia for some years for many people and this would be an enormous achievement and enable many more people to reach the end of their life without developing dementia.
Effective dementia prevention could transform the future for society. Acting now on what we already know can make this difference happen.
TOTALCARE can offer expert advice on the lifestyle factors that affect whether you can get Dementia. TOTALCARE will walk you through the factors with understanding and knowledge. Feel free to be in touch with your questions.
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