Specific Actions To Reduce Dementia Risk.

By Karen and Erica

Are you scared that you, or someone you love, may develop dementia?

We are. The statistics are daunting.

Dementia, a rapidly increasing global challenge, affects an estimated 57 million worldwide, and this number is expected to increase to 153 million by 2050 worldwide. Although the prevalence of dementia is on the decline in high-income countries, it continues to increase in low- and middle-income countries.

But we are learning that there is no reason to fear the worst. The CDC, the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public’s health, has declared that dementia is not inevitable.

The truth is dementia is not a normal or inevitable part of typical brain aging. It is also important to remember that as we get older, it is common to experience some cognitive decline with typical brain aging, such as subtle changes in memory, thinking, and  reasoning. For example, you might not immediately remember where you left your car keys, but you can find them when retracing your steps, or you can’t think of the name of a person you just met; however, you remember meeting them. These subtle changes can be frustrating and should not be bad enough to affect your daily life.

Even more important, we can take steps to mitigate risk. Johns Hopkins says:

It’s been estimated that one in three cases of dementia is preventable. You can’t do anything right now to stop or reverse the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease, but you can do something about hypertension and vascular disease risk factors.

Specifically:

Healthy choices and lifestyle changes in your 40s may make a difference in your dementia risk. Talk to your doctor about strategies to guard against plaque buildup and narrowing of your arteries:

1. Control high blood pressure (hypertension).

2. Address diabetes.

3. Quit smoking.

4. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

5. Get more physical activity.

Alzheimers.gov agrees.

A review of published research evaluated the evidence from clinical trials on behavior and lifestyle changes to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s or age-related cognitive decline. The review found “encouraging but inconclusive” evidence for three types of behavioral changes (called interventions): physical activity, blood pressure control, and cognitive training.

Better to start early, of course, but at any age there are steps we can take. Among them, says the CDC:

• Maintain a heathy weight,

• Manage diabetes and high blood pressure,

• Address hearing loss, and

• Get help for depression.

Among activities to avoid:

• Binge drinking, and

• Smoking.

One big problem: dementia is often caused by Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s, and how to treat Alzheimer’s, remains little understood.

The most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease, an invariably progressive condition that evolves from mild confusion to personality changes and ultimately to damage that affects the ability to move, communicate or eat. This terrifying diagnosis has eluded significant treatment breakthroughs, but novel and intensive research is underway to change that.

Of particular concern to the Lustre demographic—sex is a key determinant of the likelihood of getting Alzheimer’s. Women are at far greater risk.

It’s a staggering statistic: women have a twofold greater lifetime risk than men of developing Alzheimer’s. Roberta Brinton, professor at the University of Arizona, says that although women tend to live longer than men and Alzheimer’s presents itself later in life, that’s not the full picture behind the statistic

Women can develop detectable signs of Alzheimer’s as early as perimenopause, according to Brinton. The good news, says Brinton, is that some simple metabolic tests can help identify women at risk during these early stages.

Nothing much can be done about immutable risks like sex, age and genes. But progress is being made regarding treatments for Alzheimer’s. New information suggests that GLP-1s might help. And AI may speed early detection, which is key to reducing Alzheimer’s development:

A team led by scientists from the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge has developed a machine learning model able to predict whether and how fast an individual with mild memory and thinking problems will progress to developing Alzheimer’s disease. In research published today in eClinical Medicine, they show that it is more accurate than current clinical diagnostic tools.

We are excited, and grateful, that progress is being made. Godspeed, scientists!

So the plan is: Don’t panic. Do control what you can. Don’t dwell on what you can’t. Join clinical trials. Be glad you live in a world where more treatment options are created every day.

And enjoy life.