A third, or at least 5% of dementia is preventable

Dementia is one of the more severe diseases in the 21st century. As our life expectancy has been extended near to a century, the prevalence rate of dementia is also rocketing. Dementia gets rid of our quality of life. And caregivers are forced to devote a mass amount of labor and money to address problematic behaviors of people with dementia.

It has been revealed that there are several types of dementia. Each disease seems to have different origins. So, what can we do to prevent our brains from getting demented?

Many studies have been conducted so far on this issue. Few results are trustworthy, however. It is certain that lifestyle, especially in the later stage, will influence on the onset of dementia. But, the magnitude of the effect of the intervention is not clear.

My past entry: Preventing dementia

A recent study suggests a third of dementia can be prevented by continuing an optimal lifestyle. According to the researchers, midlife hearing loss, leaving education before secondary school, smoking in later life, and later life depression are all associated with the onset of dementia with a certain proportion. Also, social isolation, later life diabetes, midlife high blood pressure, midlife obesity, and lack of exercise in later life may also contribute to causing dementia. These factors are more or less controllable. Thus, some percentage of dementia is preventable.

The Guardian: Lifestyle changes could prevent a third of dementia cases, report suggests

Actually, a third is too optimistic as the proportion of preventable dementia, as the researchers admit. In reality, there may be only 5% of whole dementia reduced with lifestyle modification. Nonetheless, intervention is somehow valuable. Keeping social activity, reducing smoking, maintaining the body weight and blood pressure, and regular exercise will make you distant from dementia a little.