(3 photos worth seeing) Ahh! Dementia & Alzheimers--they put more fear in the hearts of baby boomers than heart attacks ever did. Know the risk factors & how to reduce them. This hot-off-the-press World Alzheimer Report 2014 Reveals Persuasive Evidence For Dementia Risk Reduction. tinyurl/nvtmvhh Full PDF of this excellent report here: tinyurl/kyyddkm (thanks, Tom A.) A good mantra is “What is good for your heart is good for your brain”. KEY MESSAGES: Obesity, mid-life hypertension,TYPE 2 DIABETES (big one), smoking, high midlife total cholesterol, & low education are risk factors for dementia. Short leg length, small head circumference (both are markers of poor intrauterine & childhood nutrition), neuroticism, & low conscientiousness are predictive risk factors, as well. Moderate drinking, exercise, cognitive stimulation, good nutrition, education and late-life hypertension are protective against dementia. Late-life decline in total cholesterol, late-life decline in high blood pressure and late-life decline in BMI is predictive of the onset of Alzheimers 5-15 years in advance. From the press release: The report reveals that control of diabetes and high blood pressure as well as measures to encourage smoking cessation and to reduce cardiovascular risk, have the potential to reduce the risk of dementia even in late-life. DIABETES & DEMENTIA CONNECTION: The report found that diabetes can increase the risk of dementia by 50%. Obesity and lack of physical activity are important risk factors for diabetes and hypertension, and should, therefore, also be targeted. The evidence in the report suggest that if we enter old age with better developed, healthier brains we are likely to live longer, happier and more independent lives, with a much reduced chance of developing dementia. Brain health promotion is important across the life span, but particularly in mid-life, as changes in the brain can begin decades before symptoms appear. tinyurl/kyyddkm 2014 World Alzheimer’s Report: Dementia & Risk Reduction. An Analysis of Protective & Modifiable Factors. THE BACK STORY: Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) commissioned a team of researchers, led by Professor Martin Prince from King’s College London, to produce the report. ADI is publishing this report, in conjunction with World Alzheimers Day™ (21 September) and as a part of World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 12:46:50 +0000
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