Two NEW causes of dementia discovered – as scientists warn 14 lifestyle factors could prevent half of all cases
HALF of dementia cases could be prevented with 14 healthy habits, leading experts say.
The 2024 Lancet Commission, led by top medical journal The Lancet, added lowering cholesterol and wearing glasses as two potential new causes to its latest advice.
Other important measures include healthy eating, staying slim, regular exercise, less boozing and no smoking.
Nearly a million Brits have dementia and it is the leading cause of death.
The report suggests thousands could be protected in future with healthier living.
It said rates appear to already be coming down in Britain because of lifestyle improvements.
More could be done to reduce dementia
Lead author Professor Gill Livingston, from University College London, said: “Our report reveals that there is much more that can and should be done to reduce the risk of dementia.
“It’s never too early or too late to take action.”
The report said some efforts, such as a good education, regular exercise and wearing helmets in risky sports, could be started in childhood for lifelong benefits.
The Commission increased the number of recommendations to 14 from 12 in 2020.
It said they are a mix of personal habits people can change and things under government control, like reducing air pollution.
The new additions – high cholesterol and uncorrected vision loss – are linked to an estimated nine per cent of cases.
Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing
Dr Susan Kohlhaas
Professor Charles Marshall, from Queen Mary University of London, said: “It’s vital that as a society we develop measures to keep people’s brains as healthy as possible, particularly as dementia is now the leading cause of death.”
Dr Susan Kohlhaas, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing and finding ways to prevent people from developing it is crucial.
“The good news is that this provides a huge opportunity to put in place measures that keep our brains healthy.
“Many of these factors are things individuals can do something about, such as smoking, but others, like air pollution and early childhood education, are bigger than individuals and communities.
“Tackling them will need structural changes to society to give everyone the best chance of a healthy life.”
14 WAYS TO REDUCE DEMENTIA RISK
THE 14 recommendations laid out by the Lancet Commission 2024 are:
- Good education and mental stimulation in adulthood
- Hearing aids for hearing loss
- Treatment for depression
- Head protection in contact sports
- Regular exercise
- No smoking
- Reduce high blood pressure
- Reduce high cholesterol
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Reduce high alcohol consumption
- Tackle social isolation in old age
- Testing and glasses for vision loss
- Prevent diabetes
- Reduce air pollution