By John Ely Mailonline Senior Health Reporter
01:01 September 21, 2023, 01:01 Updated September 21, 2023
Aging and genetics are the most well-known of the inevitable factors that can increase the risk of developing dementia.
However, experts have now published a definitive list of 16 other methods. There is an increased chance of developing a state of memory loss.
Obesity, smoking and not getting enough exercise are some of the more obvious habits that can make you more susceptible to the syndrome, which affects around 1 million Brits and around 7 million Americans.
But tooth loss, lack of sleep, and eating too much ultra-processed food are also on the list.
The list was compiled by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), a federation of 100 Alzheimer’s disease associations around the world.
Alzheimer’s disease, in which certain proteins build up in the brain and interfere with its function, is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for about 2 out of 3 cases.
The ADI said that even if only 12 of the 16 identified risk factors were addressed, 55.6 million cases of dementia could be prevented by 2050.
They say the many studies that can point to everything from eating blueberries to drinking champagne as ways to reduce dementia risk are confusing people about the actual steps they should take to reduce their risk. I warned you.
Dementia is not a disease in itself, but occurs as a result of another condition.
It is characterized by progressive memory loss and difficulty in daily living, depriving people of their independence, especially the elderly.
As already mentioned, Alzheimer’s disease is one of the main causes of this condition.
Another major cause is vascular problems that cut off the blood supply to the brain, either due to a stroke or a series of “mini-strokes.”
Although there is no cure, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing this condition.
ADI convened a panel of respected experts to report on the latest evidence on reducing dementia risk.
They found a total of 16 risk factors that people can control, some easier to achieve than others.
Twelve of them matched those already identified in a major 2020 study published in The Lancet.
Several factors affect our physical health, including high blood pressure, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, smoking, exposure to air pollution, and diabetes.
These affect cardiovascular health, which can contribute to the risk of dementia by affecting the risk of stroke and overall brain health.
Other factors that affect brain health, such as repeated head trauma from rugby or boxing, also appear to increase the risk of dementia.
Other factors have less of a physical impact on our brains, but are related to how we use our brains and are associated with an increased risk of dementia.
They were hearing loss, depression, lack of education, and social isolation.
However, in addition to these 12, ADI researchers identified four additional risks.
One was a poor diet, especially one containing ultra-processed foods (UPF).
These foods, which contain a variety of emulsifiers, preservatives, and artificial flavors and sweeteners, have recently been exposed as researchers have linked their consumption to poor cardiovascular health. It is attracting attention.
The ADI highlighted a number of studies linking UPF intake to cognitive decline, but acknowledged that the exact mechanism by which UPF intake increases dementia risk is unclear.
However, the report notes that one possible explanation is that UPF intake is associated with other known dementia risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Untreated vision loss was another factor identified in the ADI report.
They said that, similar to hearing loss, the exact mechanism of how dementia risk increases is unknown.
Theories include that loss of vision leads to overwork of the brain to compensate for this lack of sensation, a concept called cognitive load, and that loss of vision is associated with reduced opportunities for brain stimulation, leading to social isolation and psychological It is associated with an increased general risk of poor health.
Tooth loss is another dementia factor identified by the ADI report.
They cited a study that found that losing a tooth increased the risk of dementia by 1.1%, and that losing 20 pearly whites increased the risk by 31%.
Treating tooth loss with dentures, similar to treating hearing loss with hearing aids, appears to reduce this increased risk of developing dementia.
It was unclear how exactly tooth loss affected dementia risk.
However, the ADI report states that tooth loss may simply indicate that someone has forgotten good oral hygiene, and is therefore an early sign of dementia rather than a cause of it. It has said.
However, there is some evidence that poor oral hygiene and the resulting increase in periodontal disease can lead to an overall increase in inflammation in the body, which can have negative effects on the brain, the researchers added. .
Getting enough sleep was the last of the four factors detailed in the ADI report.
While acknowledging that the research is controversial, the ADI report suggests that poor sleep patterns in midlife may contribute to an increased risk of dementia later in life. There is.
The ADI report cites a study of 180,000 U.S. Army veterans that found people with insomnia had a 26 percent chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease over the next eight years. That’s what it means.
A possible explanation is that sleep helps flush out protein build-up associated with Alzheimer’s disease, so continued sleep deprivation disrupts this process, leading to an increased risk of dementia.
Despite concluding there are 16 modifiable risk factors for dementia, the ADI said “many other” habits had been identified through other studies not included in the report. he pointed out.
ADI CEO Paola Barbarino said she hoped the report would help people make informed lifestyle choices to reduce their risk of dementia.
“About 200 articles about dementia diets are published every day, pointing to the latest research on everything from blueberries to champagne,” she says.
“In reality, the conversation is much more nuanced than that.
“Some of these risk factors require some degree of personal choice by individuals, such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, while others, such as air quality or access to education, require government action. There are some things.”
She said new breakthrough drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease provide a source of hope for millions of people suffering from the disease, while prevention now offers a way to avoid dementia. he added.
“The old adage is that prevention is better than cure. When there is no cure, reducing risk is the best tool we have right now,” she said.
“We know it’s not always easy, but blueberries aren’t going to get us out of this, and there won’t be a silver bullet any time soon.”
Dame Louise Robinson, Professor of Primary Care and Aging at the University of Newcastle and Co-Chair of ADI’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, added: , and social connections.
“A healthy mind, a healthy body, and a healthy brain should be our mantra.”
ADI’s report also features testimonies from people currently living with dementia.
One of them was Emily Ong, a Singaporean woman who was diagnosed with dementia in 2017 at the age of 51.
He stressed that taking steps to reduce the risk of dementia does not stop after diagnosis, as improving health status can slow the progression of symptoms.
“I immediately sought advice on nutrition and ways to slow the progression and continue living well,” she said.
“The kitchen is the heart of the home and I love to cook, so I adapted my recipes to create more opportunities to cook with my family and introduced dementia-friendly kitchen appliances such as see-through kettles.”
An estimated 900,000 people in the UK and around 7 million people in the US live with dementia.
This condition is considered a growing global health concern as people’s lifespans continue to increase. The burden on healthcare systems, including in the UK, is increasing.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, the treatment and care of people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is estimated to cost the UK £25 billion each year, the majority of which is social security spending.