Almost half of dementia cases can be prevented by making certain lifestyle changes, according to research.
A doctor has shared some simple steps we can all take to lower our risk of dementia – even if the condition is a part of your family history. Many of us are aware of the condition and the devastating impact it can have.
Symptoms such as memory loss, behavioural changes and trouble performing everyday tasks can make life difficult for the affected person and their loved ones. While it may seem as if the risk of developing dementia is out of our hands, this is not entirely the case.
Research has actually shown that around 45 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented by making certain changes to your lifestyle. And an expert highlighted some key changes to make.
Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Doctor Punam Krishan answered a viewer’s question about their likelihood of developing dementia. The question read: “Both of my parents were diagnosed with dementia before they died. Is my chance of getting it raised as a result?”
Dr Punam acknowledged that this was an “understandable anxiety” to have. She said: “So many of us will have someone we love that will be affected by it at some point in our life, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to get it.”
She revealed that although there are “genetic elements” to dementia, the condition is not always inherited. Dr Punam continued: “It’s a mixture of lots of different factors including things like your age, your previous medical history, the environment that you live in, your lifestyle, and half of cases of dementia are related to things we can in some degree control.”
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The expert specified further what these factors include. She said: “So that is things like are you getting enough sleep, are you managing effectively long-term health conditions, managing your alcohol intake, stopping smoking, and making sure that you’re physically active, that you’re eating a balanced healthy diet, that you are keeping your mind active, that you’re staying connected with other people.
“All these things play a huge role in our memory and the way that our brain changes over time and we do have an element of control over that. So yes, it can run in families, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to be affected with it.”
She added: “If you are concerned, then please speak to your doctor.” An updated report from The Lancet, published in 2024, shared 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia.
These are:
- Being less educated
- Hearing loss
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Depression
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Traumatic brain injury
- Air pollution
- Social isolation
- Vision loss
- High cholesterol
Lead study author Professor Gill Livingston commented to say: “Our new 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, with opportunities to make an impact at any stage of life.
“We now have stronger evidence that longer exposure to risk has a greater effect and that risks act more strongly in people who are vulnerable. That’s why it is vital that we redouble preventive efforts towards those who need them most, including those in low and middle-income countries and socio-economically disadvantaged groups. Governments must reduce risk inequalities by making healthy lifestyles as achievable as possible for everyone.”