Tackling obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol in middle age is likely to help stave off dementia in later life, say health and ageing experts.
Writing today in an editorial in BMJ Clinical Evidence Dr Tom Russ and Professor John Starr, from the University of Edinburgh say tackling common risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes could cut an individual’s risk of developing dementia by about 20%.
The most important areas to address are increasing levels of exercise across all age groups, and keeping obesity, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels under control in middle age. And of course these measures will also have positive effects on heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
"Modifying these risk factors early enough in life to have an effect is everybody’s business," they write. "Primary and secondary healthcare professionals, health promotion bodies, the voluntary sector and even employers will have to play a part for a national reduction in dementia incidence to occur."
An alternative to rolling out these prevention initiatives population-wide is to specifically target people at high risk of dementia. However, they warn that there remains no preventative strategy proven to reduce the risk of developing dementia or to slow progression.
Dementia will continue to be a condition that demands attention and resources in the coming years but, with adequate funding and urgent health promotion and preventative endeavours, it can be hoped that care-providers will not be taxed beyond their limits, they conclude.
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