ARTICLE
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines advising that people can reduce their risk for dementia. The guidelines recommend exercising regularly and following a healthy lifestyle; reducing modifiable risk factors such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and not being active enough. Dementia is characterized by a decline in cognitive function that is beyond what would usually be expected as a result of normal aging. According to the WHO, around 50 million people globally are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, with one new case being diagnosed every three seconds. Almost 10 million new cases of dementia arise every year and the number of people diagnosed with the condition is set to triple by 2050. Dementia represents a huge economic burden on society; the cost associated with providing dementia patients with the care and support they need is expected to reach $2 trillion per year by 2030. Given the increasing number of new cases, the heavy social and economic impact and the absence of a cure, the WHO says it is imperative that people try to reduce modifiable risk factors for the condition. The guidelines were designed to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge they need to advise patients on the measures they can take to reduce their risk for cognitive decline and dementia. They also serve as a knowledge base for governments, planning authorities and policymakers to develop programs and policies that will help encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Recommendations include getting sufficient exercise; managing health problems such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol; being socially active; and avoiding or reducing harmful lifestyle habits such as smoking, overeating and excessive alcohol intake. Other recommendations advise on nutritional and cognitive interventions and how to manage depression and hearing loss. The WHO says that, although there is not a strong evidence base to suggest that such interventions will preserve cognition, they do encourage a lifestyle that is known to be good for overall health. The guidelines say that healthy eating plans such as following a Mediterranean diet may help to reduce the risk for dementia, but that people cannot expect supplements such as vitamin pills or fish oil to help. The WHO highlights that strong evidence does exist to show that such shortcuts are not effective. Although aging is one of the main risk factors, dementia “is not a natural or inevitable consequence of aging," the guidelines advise. A range of diseases and lifestyle factors increase the risk for developing dementia and scientists estimate that in around one-third of cases, dementia is preventable. Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20190515/WHO-releases-guidelines-for-preventing-dementia-and-they-dont-include-supplements.aspx
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines advising that people can reduce their risk for dementia. The guidelines recommend exercising regularly and following a healthy lifestyle; reducing modifiable risk factors such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and not being active enough.
Dementia is characterized by a decline in cognitive function that is beyond what would usually be expected as a result of normal aging. According to the WHO, around 50 million people globally are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, with one new case being diagnosed every three seconds. Almost 10 million new cases of dementia arise every year and the number of people diagnosed with the condition is set to triple by 2050. Dementia represents a huge economic burden on society; the cost associated with providing dementia patients with the care and support they need is expected to reach $2 trillion per year by 2030.
Given the increasing number of new cases, the heavy social and economic impact and the absence of a cure, the WHO says it is imperative that people try to reduce modifiable risk factors for the condition.
The guidelines were designed to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge they need to advise patients on the measures they can take to reduce their risk for cognitive decline and dementia. They also serve as a knowledge base for governments, planning authorities and policymakers to develop programs and policies that will help encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Recommendations include getting sufficient exercise; managing health problems such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol; being socially active; and avoiding or reducing harmful lifestyle habits such as smoking, overeating and excessive alcohol intake. Other recommendations advise on nutritional and cognitive interventions and how to manage depression and hearing loss.
The WHO says that, although there is not a strong evidence base to suggest that such interventions will preserve cognition, they do encourage a lifestyle that is known to be good for overall health.
The guidelines say that healthy eating plans such as following a Mediterranean diet may help to reduce the risk for dementia, but that people cannot expect supplements such as vitamin pills or fish oil to help. The WHO highlights that strong evidence does exist to show that such shortcuts are not effective.
Although aging is one of the main risk factors, dementia “is not a natural or inevitable consequence of aging," the guidelines advise. A range of diseases and lifestyle factors increase the risk for developing dementia and scientists estimate that in around one-third of cases, dementia is preventable.
Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20190515/WHO-releases-guidelines-for-preventing-dementia-and-they-dont-include-supplements.aspx