How you can fight back when you’re at risk of dementia – Daily Mail

Within two years it’s expected that the number of people living with dementia in the UK will exceed one million — up from the current 920,000.

Those affected may experience not only memory loss but confusion, mood changes and difficulty with everyday tasks such as counting money and remembering when to eat and drink.

But why are cases rising so fast? The fact that we are living longer is often cited as the principal reason, but it isn’t that simple.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, around four in ten cases of dementia may be prevented by addressing lifestyle factors such as eating a balanced diet, staying physically and mentally active, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in check and not smoking. All these can help keep our brains healthy.

Within two years it’s expected that the number of people living with dementia in the UK will exceed one million — up from the current 920,000

But some risk factors are impossible to avoid — women, for example, are slightly more likely to develop dementia than men, and genes can contribute to your risk.

A recent landmark study identified 42 genes linked to the disease — adding to the 30 or so previously identified. This leaves the door open for improved diagnostics and treatments, which currently are lacking.

The good news is that identifying elements of a person’s health and lifestyle that may put them at increased risk can enable them to take steps to cut the likelihood of developing dementia in the future.

We talked to five people whose chance of developing dementia may be greater due to a variety of risk factors. Then Professor Paul Matthews, director of the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, assessed their risks and suggested lifestyle adjustments that might help — and it is advice we can all benefit from.

Recovering from a head injury  

Guy Eaton, 55, a company director of Pacmat picnic blankets, lives in Hackney, London, with his wife Megan, 51, and their children, Eliza, 18, and George, 16. He says:

Guy Eaton, 55, a company director, lives in Hackney, London, with his wife Megan, 51, and their children, Eliza, 18, and George

My mum suffered with Alzheimer’s (the most common type of dementia) for seven years and died last June, at the age of 81. She was such a clever woman and, after her children had grown up, studied for a degree and a Master’s. It was awful to watch her succumb to the disease and it makes me nervous about my risk.</…….

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10729297/How-fight-youre-risk-dementia.html