Can dementia be prevented by changing lifestyle habits?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of brain diseases that include memory loss and other thinking and reasoning abilities that are severe enough to interfere with activities of daily living.
It is often associated with people over the age of 65 and is considered an age-related condition. On the contrary, studies have shown that dementia is not solely caused by aging and that up to 40% of dementia cases may be prevented by making certain lifestyle changes. Such changes include staying active, reducing alcohol intake, socializing, getting proper nutrition, and maintaining a healthy weight.
A groundbreaking study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia in late July found that untreated vision loss and high cholesterol levels are linked to an increased risk of dementia. Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at Alzheimer’s Society and co-sponsor of the study, said: “It’s never too early or too late to reduce your risk of dementia.”
This Lancet Commission study, partially funded by the Alzheimer’s Society, identified two new risk factors for developing dementia: untreated vision loss and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (or “bad cholesterol”) levels. was identified. The study also suggested that almost 50% of all dementia cases worldwide could be delayed or prevented.
High cholesterol is already recognized as a risk factor for several other health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that approximately 71 million Americans suffer from high cholesterol. Cholesterol levels can be lowered by eliminating saturated fat, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol intake.
Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 12 million people in the United States over the age of 40 have a visual impairment, 1 million of whom are visually impaired, and the number of people with a visual impairment is expected to increase. It is expected. It will more than double by 2050. The aging population in the United States is a major factor in the increase in vision loss, as more people live with chronic conditions such as diabetes that can cause vision loss.
Mr Carragher emphasized that this challenge is not just a matter of individual choice, but a societal challenge.
“While some dementia risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and exercise, can be managed through lifestyle changes, many need to be addressed at a societal level. Social isolation, educational disparities and air pollution are within the control of the individual. requires intervention and collective action from government and industry.”
