Reducing the risk of dementia

You cannot alter your age or the genes you are born with, but there are lifestyle changes you can adopt which may reduce your chance of developing dementia by as much as 20%. The BBC convened a panel of independent experts, chaired by the Alzheimer’s Society, which evaluated more than 70 research papers and articles to come up with a series of tips for reducing your risk. It may sound young, but the age of 35, they suggest, is high time to start thinking about these recommendations. If more of us gave advice to our patients on these, thousands of cases of dementia could be prevented in the future.

There is very strong evidence for the following:

  • Exercise
  • Not being obese
  • Reducing high blood pressure
  • Reduce cholesterol
  • Not smoking

It is possible the following may have an impact:

  • Alcohol
  • Following a Mediterranean diet
  • Being socially active

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