Risk factors of dementia, not understood by many: study

#Dementia; #PhysicalHealth; #MentalHealth; #Alzheimer

New York, Nov 19 (Canadian-Media): The results of a new research conducted showed that almost half of adults surveyed globally failed to understand the connection between physical health and brain health in developing a memory robbing disease, dementia, media reports said.

One in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. In the absence of proven medicines or medical treatments to prevent it, European studies have shown that healthy lifestyles may help prevent mental decline. The Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring similar U.S. research.

Mental stimulation like regular exercise, a good diet, limiting alcohol and not smoking and supplements, playing chess, taking a class, listening to music and reading about unfamiliar topics can prevent dementia.

“We really haven’t done a good job of getting the word out that there really are things you can do to lower your risk,” said Dr. Donovan Maust, the study’s lead author and a geriatric psychiatrist at the University of Michigan.
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The study was published online Friday in JAMA Neurology. It’s based on a nationally representative health survey of 1,000 adults aged 50 to 64.

Other things that doctors can do to prevent dementia is to help people manage conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes that have been linked with dementia risk, Maust said.