Seven healthy habits can cut your risk of developing dementia, according to a new study.
Roughly 900,000 people in the UK have dementia, a group of symptoms causing memory loss, confusion, problems with language and understanding, and changes in behaviour, that worsen over time, according to Alzheimer's Society, a charity.
This will rise above 1m in the UK by 2025, according to the NHS. Across the world, the number of people living with dementia is expected to nearly triple to 153m by 2050. Affecting one in 14 people over the age of 65, and up to 70% of people in UK care homes, this will put significant pressure on health and social care services.
READ MORE: The worst performing GP surgeries in Merseyside
But there are ways to reduce the risk of developing dementia by keeping the mind and body healthy. This includes being active, eating a better diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, keeping normal blood pressure, controlling cholesterol and having low blood sugar, according to a study due to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in Boston in April.
Pamela Rist, a member of the academy and an associate epidemiologist at the city's Brigham and Women's Hospital, said: "Since we now know that dementia can begin in the brain decades before diagnosis, it's important that we learn more about how your habits in middle age can affect your risk of dementia in old age.
"The good news is that making healthy lifestyle choices in middle age may lead to a decreased risk of dementia later in life."
After more than 20 years of follow-up, researchers examined the health data of 13,720 women aged 54, on average, at the start of the research. Of these, 13% or 1,771 developed dementia.
They assigned a score of zero for poor or intermediate health, and one for ideal health, for each of the seven health factors. The average score was 4.3 at the start of the study, and 4.3 a decade later, out of a total possible score of seven.
Researchers found a person's risk of dementia fell by 6% for every increase of one point in the score. Rist said: "It can be empowering for people to know that by taking steps such as exercising for half an hour a day or keeping their blood pressure under control, they can reduce their risk of dementia."
The study was unable to look at how factors like quitting smoking influence the risk of dementia in later life, so the researchers warned there are limitations to their study. But it does reinforce existing knowledge about the causes and prevention of dementia.
A study from Chinese researchers, published last month, found a mix of healthy lifestyle choices like eating well, regular exercise, playing cards and socialising at least twice a week could help slow the rate or memory decline and reduce the risk of dementia, The Guardian reports.
Susan Mitchell, head of policy at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: “This large study adds to the overwhelming evidence that by being active and eating healthily in middle age, women can reduce their chances of dementia in later life."
The NHS website recommends a healthy, balanced diet, a healthy weight, regular exercise, alcohol consumption within recommended limits, no smoking, and keeping a healthy blood pressure. It said: "There's no certain way to prevent all types of dementia, as researchers are still investigating how the condition develops.
"However, there's good evidence that a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing dementia when you're older. A healthy lifestyle can also help prevent cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart attacks, which are themselves risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, the two most common types of dementia."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
