The number of global dementia cases could be reduced if the risk factors were consistently and from Childhood fights. This is the result of the international experts in an article in The journal “The Lancet”. In youth, lack of education is one of the main risk factors. In the middle-aged and older Overweight, had high blood pressure, hearing loss, or social Isolation from a disadvantage.
Overall, the scientists led by Gill Livingston had identified from the University College London nine risk factors for various dementia illnesses, and assessed. This includes Depression, Diabetes, Smoking and lack of exercise. All would eliminates these risk factors completely, you could decrease the number of global dementia cases by about a third, calculated the researchers.
Education for the prevention
A good education was, therefore, a particularly important preventive measure. You will increase the cognitive abilities and the capacity of the brain. All of the children in the world suddenly have access to adequate education, it would be almost one in ten (eight per cent) of dementia avoid, as calculated by the authors. Only the loss of hearing can have a greater negative impact than the lack of education.
However, the researchers limit: “The Figures should be interpreted with caution, because it is not possible for all risk factors fully off”. In addition, some potential risk factors have not been taken into account in the calculations, such as alcohol consumption or lack of sleep.
Action package on a scientific Basis
By 2050, the researchers expect about 131 million people with dementia worldwide. In 2015, the number of Affected still stood at 47 million. In rich countries such as the USA, the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Canada, the number of disease cases declined, according to the study, last. Should increase the risk factors such as Obesity and related health problems, would reverse this Trend but quickly.
“The authors make a right on the importance and the huge potential for prevention by changes in lifestyle and environmental factors in attention”, commented Monique Breteler, Director of Population health research at the German center for Neurodegenerative diseases in Bonn. From their point of view, however, it must be clarified whether all of the above factors have a causal effect on the disease – in fact, it is your responsibility that this occurs and not just happen to appear simultaneously.