New research published in the ‘The Lancet Commission: Dementia prevention, intervention, and care’ highlights new and existing risk factors for the development of dementia. Findings show that as many as one in three cases of dementia could be prevented if all the factors could be addressed.
A set of nine modifiable risk factors – those for which risk can be reduced – were presented in the report alongside the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London. They include level of education, hearing loss, social isolation, hypertension, obesity, smoking, depression, lack of physical activity and diabetes. Risk factors such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes may be addressed with a healthy diet and exercise, while maintaining an active social life can also reduce your risk of depression.
With someone in the world developing dementia every 3 seconds, ADI supports the message that prevention of dementia can be supported by taking action early in life and continuing healthy habits into old age.
A comment published with the commission highlights the impact of dementia in low- and middle-income countries and the importance of implementing the public health approach set out in the WHO Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025.
