Over 700,000 people in the UK are currently affected by dementia, with one in 20 people aged over 65 and one in five over 80 years old, and there is a great deal of interest in how it may be prevented or slowed. This book looks at the medical evidence available about ways to reduce the risk of dementia.
Dementia is one of today's health time bombs, affecting more than 700,000 people in the UK. This book examines the clinical evidence and analyses risk factors such as smoking, excess alcohol, high blood pressure, obesity, physical inertia, and poorly controlled and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. It also explores the impact of genetic factors; the role of intellectual stimulation; hobbies and activities; the case for remaining physically active; and the importance of social networks. While we can't rely on lifestyle changes as a way of avoiding dementia, the good news is that they may help delay its onset and slow its progress.