New research shows that almost half of all dementia cases around the world could be prevented or delayed, and there is increasingly compelling evidence that lifestyle can have an impact.
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Expertise centre on preventing dementia: “It’s never too late to take action”
Sally Tipper
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Untreated hearing loss, smoking and lack of exercise are some of the factors that increase a person’s risk of dementia. They are among 12 risk factors described in a 2020 report. A new study by dementia experts, published in medical journal The Lancet, confirms the earlier findings and adds two more risk factors: excessive cholesterol levels and vision loss.
“Those two added risk factors are associated with 9% of all dementia cases,” says Jurn Verschraegen, director of the Flemish Dementia Expertise Centre. “That makes all 14 risk factors together responsible for about 45% of diagnoses.”
That means almost half of all cases of dementia could be avoided or at least delayed. Verschraegen: “Anyone can be unlucky enough to develop the disease anyway. It is also not meant to make you obsess about it. But it is important to be aware of what you are doing and how it affects you. The research really highlights the value of prevention.”
Anyone can be unlucky enough to develop the disease anyway. But it is important to be aware of what you are doing and how it affects you
We can do more than we think to reduce the risk of dementia, he says. “There are some obvious things you can do. With the Flemish government, we have launched a campaign that shares preventive tips.”
These include checking your cholesterol levels and wearing a helmet when cycling to prevent brain damage in the event of an accident. “It’s also very important to exercise,” says Verschraegen. “Walking has also been shown to have a positive impact even when you have already developed dementia.”
People should also have sight or hearing loss treated. A hearing problem can cut people off from their social environment, and maintaining social contact is an important way to keep the brain active.
Everything that is good for the heart is also good for the brain
“Other things are more difficult, but you can still do them yourself,” says Verschraegen. “Seek help to quit smoking or tackle obesity, for example. Try to seek help for depression. That’s another way you reduce your chances of social isolation. Everything that is good for the heart is also good for the brain.”
At the same time, there are risk factors beyond our control, such as air quality and socioeconomic inequalities. “People in certain groups have less access to a healthy lifestyle and a higher risk of depression, which in turn increases the risk of social isolation. That’s a real concern.”
Reducing the risk
The World Health Organization estimates that there are currently around 55 million people with dementia. An ageing population would triple that number to about 150 million cases by 2050.
In Belgium, it is estimated that around 200,000 people live with dementia, and the number is rising. The risk of developing dementia during a person’s lifetime is one in five, a risk that increases with age.
The effect of lifestyle changes can be obvious very quickly. “Research shows that quitting smoking almost immediately significantly reduces or even eliminates that extra risk of dementia,” Verschraegen says.
“There is a misconception that especially after the age of 40, it’s too late to take care of your health. The opposite is true. That’s when it’s crucial to make healthier choices and be aware of the impact of your lifestyle. It’s never too late to take action.”