Professor Graham Stokes explains the key risk factors when it comes to dementia
As we observe Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, one of the most common questions asked about dementia is: Can it be prevented? In this blog, we’ll explain the common risk factors when it comes to dementia care, debunk some common myths, and highlight the importance of understanding dementia.
Understanding dementia
Dementia is not a single illness but rather a syndrome—a collection of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, and practical abilities severely enough to interfere with daily life.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, followed by vascular dementia, which results from reduced blood flow to the brain. While dementia is most common in individuals over 80, it is not an inevitable part of ageing. Younger people under the age of 65 can also be affected.
Can dementia be prevented?
The short answer is that while we cannot prevent dementia, there are ways to reduce your risk.
Dementia is influenced by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Although some risk factors - like our age and genetics - are out of our control and cannot be changed, research suggests that managing the factors that we can change could lower the likelihood of developing dementia.
These factors include:
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Cardiovascular health: Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes increase the risk of developing vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Maintaining a healthy heart through diet, exercise, and medication (when necessary) is crucial.
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Physical activity: Regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of dementia. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain, reduces cardiovascular risk factors, and promotes overall brain health.
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Mental and social engagement: Keeping your brain active through lifelong learning, problem-solving activities, and social engagement can help maintain cognitive function. Studies suggest that individuals who stay mentally and socially active have a lower risk of dementia.
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Diet: This means maintaining a healthy weight and treating obesity as early as possible. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats (like those found in the Mediterranean diet) can contribute to this, as well as improving heart health. Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption is also important.
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Smoking: Recent evidence suggests that quitting smoking might reduce someone’s risk of developing dementia.
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Hearing and sight loss: Recent studies have shown that untreated hearing and visual loss is linked to a higher risk of dementia. Visual loss includes common sight problems, for which you’d wear glasses. Using hearing aids when needed can help reduce this risk.
Can medicines help to cure or prevent dementia?
Another common question about the prevention of dementia, is the role of medicines. Here, let’s talk about some of the common myths around medicines and dementia:
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Myth 1: Medication can prevent dementia: Despite ongoing research, there is currently no treatment or medication that can prevent or cure dementia. While some medications may temporarily alleviate symptoms, they do not stop the progression of the disease.
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Myth 2: Vitamin supplements can prevent dementia: While maintaining healthy levels of vitamins like B12 and D is important for overall health and wellbeing, there is no strong evidence that taking supplements can prevent dementia in individuals without deficiencies.
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Myth 3: Alzheimer’s medication works for all types of dementia: Medications like cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine which are currently routinely available for Alzheimer’s disease, are not effective for all types of dementia.
Conclusion
While we cannot prevent dementia, we can take steps to reduce the risk and manage symptoms effectively. Understanding the myths and realities surrounding dementia, and recognising the importance of person-led care, can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by it.
At HC-One, we are committed to providing compassionate, individualised care that puts the person, not just the condition, at the centre of everything we do. We do this by caring with kindness and taking the time to understand what matters most to each individual in each moment, so we can support them to live their best possible life every day.
To learn more, visit HC-One’s dementia support and advice page on our website.