How can you prevent dementia?
Many dementia cases might be preventable.
The biological processes that may lead to dementia can begin 20 to 30 years before diagnosis. While some factors, like age and genetics, are beyond our control, many others are modifiable through changes in health habits and disease management. Scientists have identified 14 major risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
By addressing these factors early, we can take meaningful steps towards protecting long-term brain health. But it is important to emphasise that it is the probability (or likelihood) – not the possibility – of dementia one is decreasing with all the suggested actions. One can still get dementia after addressing all of them, but it is much less likely.
The 14 risk factors are:
low-level education
diabetes
head injury
obesity
air pollution
smoking
high cholesterol
hearing impairment
hypertension
physical inactivity
untreated depression
untreated vision loss
infrequent social contact
excessive alcohol consumption