Up to 45% of dementia risk could be prevented or delayed
The document recommends cognitive training and stimulation, participation in social activities, physical activity, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol and following a healthy diet, among other habits.
Worldwide, more than 57 million people live with dementia, and nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed every year, of which between 60% and 70% are Alzheimer’s. Although there is no specific cure, the World Health Organization has published new guidelines that put at around 45% the share of risk associated with modifiable factors: tobacco, alcohol, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution and poorly controlled hypertension or diabetes are the main ones.
Healthy lifestyle and other recommendations
The document recommends cognitive training and stimulation, participation in social activities, physical activity, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol and following a healthy diet, and for the first time includes reducing exposure to air pollution. It also recommends managing hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol, as well as using hearing aids when there is hearing loss. By contrast, it does not recommend vitamin B, E or omega-3 supplements without a diagnosed deficiency.
The organisation recalls that dementia also represents an annual cost of 1.3 trillion dollars for the world economy, half of it due to unpaid care by relatives.
