Taken From the News today
Five lifestyle changes 'could reduce dementia risk'
A jog, a Mediterranean diet, and learning a new hobby are among the top five tips to stave off dementia - but one in five Britons think there is nothing they can do
Experts said eating a 'Mediterranean diet' was one way to reduce the risk of dementia. Photo: Alamy
One in five people do not think it is possible to reduce their risk of dementia, despite growing evidence that the condition is linked to lifestyles, a survey has found.
Research suggests one in three cases of the condition could be prevented by increased activity levels, a reduction in smoking and tackling health problems such as obesity and diabetes.
Last month a landmark study by Cambridge University suggested that just one hour’s exercise a week can reduce the chance of Alzheimer’s disease by almost half.
But a YouGov poll of more than 2,000 people by the Alzheimer’s Society published has found 22 per cent of people did not think it was possible to reduce their risk of dementia.
The charity said “five simple changes” to the average lifestyle could make a significant difference, with regular exercise highlighted as the most important factor.
In July a study published in the Lancet Neurology - the first to quantify the combined impact of lifestyle factors influencing dementia – identified exercise as the most significant protection against the condition.
Those who did not achieve three 20-minute bursts of vigorous exercise per week, such as jogging or football, or five 30-minute sessions of moderate activity, such as walking were 82 per cent more likely to go on to develop dementia.
Obesity in mid-life increased the risks of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease by 60 per cent, while high blood pressure raised the threat by 61 per cent, the analysis found.
The Alzheimer’s Society said eating the right foods was important, recommending a “Mediterranean diet” with plenty of fruit and vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts, a little red wine and not much meat or dairy.
Scientists also believe that challenging the brain regularly – for example taking up a new hobby, learning a language or even walking an unfamiliar route – may help to stave off dementia.
The charity said that there is no evidence that the brain is preserved by puzzles and crosswords, but said learning new skills and navigating new problems or geographical areas appears to have an impact on dementia.
Smoking, which damages blood vessels and the amount of blood reaching the brain, significantly increases the risk of developing the condition.
Other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure also increase dementia risks.
The charity urged those at risk of either condition to undergo checks and follow medical advice.
Dr Clare Walton from the Alzheimer’s Society said: “800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia but with no cure yet, we need a significant public health effort to attempt to reduce the number of future cases of the condition.
“We know that what is good for your heart is good for your head and there are simple things you can start doing now to reduce your risk of developing dementia. Regular exercise is a good place to start as well as avoiding smoking and eating a Mediterranean diet.
‘It is never too early to start making healthier choices that could help your memory - whether that’s hitting the gym or just walking instead of catching the bus, it all helps.”
Five tips to reduce the risk of developing dementia, from the Alzheimer’s Society:
• Exercise - There’s more evidence that regular exercise will prevent dementia than for any other measure we might take. Scientists don’t know why exactly, but it is possibly because it reduces blood pressure, controls cholesterol, improves blood vessel health and keeps weight down.
• Eat Mediterranean food - Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts, a little red wine and not much meat or dairy. “We don’t know which factor is most important here,” says Dr Clare Walton, from the charity, “whether it’s the fruit and veg, the omega-3s from the oily fish, the low sugar, the tannins from the red wine or the fact that you get your fat from olive oil, fish and nuts rather than dairy and red meat.”
• Manage other health conditions – Other conditions like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure both increase your risk of developing dementia, so get these checked and follow medical advice to keep them under control.
• Avoid smoking - We all know smoking is extremely harmful and here’s yet another reason to quit - it significantly increases your risk of developing dementia, most likely because it damages blood vessels and reduces the amount of blood that reaches your brain.
• Use it or lose it – The philosophy that you should use your brain to preserve it by doing lots of puzzles, crosswords and reading has gained huge popularity in the past few years but the evidence that crosswords or Sudoku prevent dementia just isn’t there. Scientists believe that frequently challenging your brain with new things is the key, for example taking up a new hobby, learning a language or even walking an unfamiliar route.
Those who did not achieve three 20-minute bursts of vigorous exercise per week, such as jogging or football, or five 30-minute sessions of moderate activity, such as walking were 82 per cent more likely to go on to develop dementia.
Obesity in mid-life increased the risks of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease by 60 per cent, while high blood pressure raised the threat by 61 per cent, the analysis found.
The Alzheimer’s Society said eating the right foods was important, recommending a “Mediterranean diet” with plenty of fruit and vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts, a little red wine and not much meat or dairy.
Scientists also believe that challenging the brain regularly – for example taking up a new hobby, learning a language or even walking an unfamiliar route – may help to stave off dementia.
The charity said that there is no evidence that the brain is preserved by puzzles and crosswords, but said learning new skills and navigating new problems or geographical areas appears to have an impact on dementia.
Smoking, which damages blood vessels and the amount of blood reaching the brain, significantly increases the risk of developing the condition.
Other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure also increase dementia risks.
The charity urged those at risk of either condition to undergo checks and follow medical advice.
Dr Clare Walton from the Alzheimer’s Society said: “800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia but with no cure yet, we need a significant public health effort to attempt to reduce the number of future cases of the condition.
“We know that what is good for your heart is good for your head and there are simple things you can start doing now to reduce your risk of developing dementia. Regular exercise is a good place to start as well as avoiding smoking and eating a Mediterranean diet.
‘It is never too early to start making healthier choices that could help your memory - whether that’s hitting the gym or just walking instead of catching the bus, it all helps.”
Five tips to reduce the risk of developing dementia, from the Alzheimer’s Society:
• Exercise - There’s more evidence that regular exercise will prevent dementia than for any other measure we might take. Scientists don’t know why exactly, but it is possibly because it reduces blood pressure, controls cholesterol, improves blood vessel health and keeps weight down.
• Eat Mediterranean food - Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts, a little red wine and not much meat or dairy. “We don’t know which factor is most important here,” says Dr Clare Walton, from the charity, “whether it’s the fruit and veg, the omega-3s from the oily fish, the low sugar, the tannins from the red wine or the fact that you get your fat from olive oil, fish and nuts rather than dairy and red meat.”
• Manage other health conditions – Other conditions like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure both increase your risk of developing dementia, so get these checked and follow medical advice to keep them under control.
• Avoid smoking - We all know smoking is extremely harmful and here’s yet another reason to quit - it significantly increases your risk of developing dementia, most likely because it damages blood vessels and reduces the amount of blood that reaches your brain.
• Use it or lose it – The philosophy that you should use your brain to preserve it by doing lots of puzzles, crosswords and reading has gained huge popularity in the past few years but the evidence that crosswords or Sudoku prevent dementia just isn’t there. Scientists believe that frequently challenging your brain with new things is the key, for example taking up a new hobby, learning a language or even walking an unfamiliar route.
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I always say that we may have this illness, but we are all so different.
This is my own daily problems, but I would gladly share anyone elses, if they send them in,