Half of global dementia cases could be prevented if people adopted healthier and more environmentally friendly lifestyle choices, according to a new report.
The third Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care found that eating less, keeping active, cutting out alcohol and cigarettes could reduce the risk of dementia and allow people to live a ‘longer, healthier life’. The report was presented to the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC 2024) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania earlier this week.
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Dr Susan Kohlhaas, executive director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said that dementia is not an ‘inevitable part of ageing’ and can be prevented with lifestyle factors linked to Alzheimer's and dementia.
She said: ‘Age and genetics are the biggest risk factors for dementia. But today’s new analysis, which Alzheimer's Research UK helped fund, confirms that there are at least 14 other health and lifestyle factors at play – accounting for almost half of all dementia cases.’
In 2020, the Commission report listed health and lifestyle risk factors including lower levels of education, hearing impairment, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, air pollution and social isolation.
The new report added two new risk factors to the list that are associated with 9% of all dementia cases. An estimated 7% of cases are attributable to high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or ‘bad’ cholesterol, and 2% of cases attributable to uncorrected vision loss.
While many of these factors can be managed by individuals, such as smoking and physical activity, Dr Kohlhaas said that child education and air pollution need ‘structural changes to society’.
She said: ‘Alzheimer’s Research UK wants to see the Public Health and Prevention Minister, Andrew Gwynne MP, establish a prevention strategy that addresses the health and lifestyle factors linked to dementia - from what we eat and drink, to the air we breathe and the education we receive.’