We can reduce our chances of developing dementia

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A 60-year-old who is overweight/obese has more than twice the chance of developing dementia by the time he/she is 75 compared to a 60-year-old of normal weight. As rates of obesity in the United Kingdom rise alarmingly, it is possible the country may have 2.5 million people suffering from dementia by the middle of the century. Currently, about 700,000 people suffer from dementia/Alzheimer's disease in the UK.

According to the Alzheimer's Society (UK), there is a lot we can do to reduce our chances of developing dementia later in life. If dementia were delayed by five years, the total number of death from dementia would halve, says the Society.

According to Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, "Over 100 000 people in the UK develop dementia each year. Evidence has shown that a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk…we are encouraging people to Be Headstrong and challenge their risk of dementia. We must start to tackle dementia head on, even delaying dementia by five years will halve the number of deaths in the UK."

Professor Clive Ballard, director of research at Alzheimer's Society, said "We are only beginning to see how much a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of dementia. Some studies show that obesity can double your risk while a Mediterranean diet can lower your risk by as much as 40 per cent. It's time to act now to slow the rising tide of dementia."


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