Two-thirds of Britons scared of getting dementia

Two-thirds of people in the UK are worried about getting dementia in later life, yet only a quarter realise being overweight is a risk factor, according to a new survey by Bupa.

The YouGov poll commissioned by care provider Bupa found only 40 per cent of people in the UK think challenging their brain with mental exercises can help ward off dementia and less than a quarter realise social interaction can make a difference.

It also revealed that less than half of people in the UK realise that reducing alcohol intake may influence the risk of developing dementia.

Professor Graham Stokes, global director of dementia care, Bupa, said: “While age and genetics are part of the disease’s risk factors, not smoking, eating more healthily, getting some exercise, and having a good education can all play a part in minimising your chances of developing dementia.

“People who already have dementia, or signs of it, can also do these things, which may help to slow the progression of the disease.”

The survey coincides with the World Alzheimer Report 2014 ‘Dementia and Risk Reduction: An analysis of protective and modifiable factors’, calling for dementia to be integrated into both global and national public health programmes alongside other major non communicable diseases (NCDs).

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) commissioned a team of researchers, led by Professor Martin Prince from King’s College London, to produce the report, which has been published as part of World Alzheimer’s Month.

Professor Prince, from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience commented: “There is already evidence from several studies that the incidence of dementia may be falling in high income countries, linked to improvements in education and cardiovascular health. We need to do all we can to accentuate these trends. With a global cost of over US$ 600 billion, the stakes could hardly be higher.”

Marc Wortmann, executive director of Alzheimer’s Disease International added: “From a public health perspective, it is important to note that most of the risk factors for dementia overlap with those for the other major non communicable diseases (NCDs).

“In high income countries, there is an increased focus on healthier lifestyles, but this is not always the case with lower and middle income countries. By 2050, we estimate that 71 per cent of people living with dementia will live in these regions, so implementing effective public health campaigns may help to reduce the global risk.”

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. It also found that diabetes can increase the risk of dementia by 50 per cent. Obesity and lack of physical activity are important risk factors for diabetes and hypertension, and should, therefore, also be targeted. Furthermore, the study revealed that those who have had better educational opportunities have a lower risk of dementia in late-life. Evidence suggests that education has no impact on the brain changes that lead to dementia, but reduces their impact on intellectual functioning.

The study also urges non communicable diseases programs to be more inclusive of older people, with the message that it’s never too late to make a change, as the future course of the global dementia epidemic is likely to depend crucially upon the success or failure of efforts to improve global public health, across the population.