NEUROLOGY


supplements who had a history of stroke were at an increased risk of developing dementia. The researchers found no association between dementia risk and calcium supplementation in women without a history of stroke.10


Head injuries could also be linked to increased risk of developing dementia. A study, published by Imperial College London in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, shows these clumps called amyloid plaques are still present over a decade after the injury. The researchers studied nine patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. Many had sustained these in road traffic accidents between 11 months to 17 years prior to the study. Although they had no physical disabilities from the injury, many still experienced memory and concentration problems. Patients, aged between 38-55, underwent a brain scan that used a technique that allows scientists to view amyloid plaques.11


“We know that


a serious head injury is a risk factor for developing dementia. Using a new brain scanning technique, this study has shown that the protein beta-amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, can accumulate in the brain after a serious head injury. However, it is important to note that the protein clumps seen after brain injury were much fewer and located in different regions than the clumps seen in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. This means it is not a simple case of head injury triggering the same brain changes that occur as dementia develops. “The effects of a severe head injury can remain hidden for years. More research is needed to understand why they put you at an increased risk of developing dementia and whether there are ways to reduce that risk once a head injury has occurred,” commented Dr Clare Walton, research manager, Alzheimer’s Society.11 Ultimately, age is reported to be the biggest risk factor for dementia, with genetics and lifestyle also playing a role. The PHE advises that simple steps like giving up smoking, reducing alcohol intake, losing weight and taking regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia. As the cost to the UK economy is set to rise from over £24 billion a year to £32.5 billion by 2050, raising awareness of the risk factors, while identifying disease-modifying treatments, to slow progression or delay onset, could have a significant impact – both in human and financial terms.3 Dr Matthew Norton, director of policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, warned that public awareness is essential for empowering people to make changes that may lower their chances of developing the condition. “While we don’t yet have sure-fire preventions, research suggests keeping healthy from mid-life could help reduce the risk of dementia. With 850,000 people already living with dementia in the UK, we must do


FEBRUARY 2017


all we can to help people understand the risk factors for dementia now, if we are to influence dementia rates in the future,” he concluded.


References


1 Office of National Statistics (ONS) statistical bulletin Deaths registered in England & Wales 2015. Accessed at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/people populationandcommunity/birthsdeathsand marriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredin englandandwalesseriesdr/2015


2 Statistics cited by Alzheimer’s Research UK, accessed at: http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/ about-dementia/facts-stats/10-things-you-need- to-know-about-prevalence


3 press release, ‘Leading charity urges preparation plan for new dementia treatments’, 14 September 2016, accessed at: http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/ leading-charity-urges-preparation-plan-new- dementia-treatments/


4 Alzheimer’s Research UK, http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/about- dementia/helpful-information/treatments-available/


5 Department of Health, press release, ‘Public unaware of the factors that increase the risk of dementia’, 26 October 2016, accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/ government/news/public-unaware-of-the-factors- that-increase-the-risk-of-dementia


6 Frank J, et al, ‘Orthostatic hypotension and the long- term risk of dementia: A population-based study’, PLOS Medicine, 11 October 2016, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002143. Cited in press release, Alzheimer’s Research UK, 11th October 2016: http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/ blood-pressure-drops-linked-dementia-risk/ 7 Liu-Ambrose T, et al, ‘Aerobic exercise and


CSJ


0vascular cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial.’ Neurology. 19 October 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27760869 cited in press release, Alzheimer’s Research UK, 19th October 2016, at http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/ aerobic-exercise-may-slow-memory-decline/


8 Lewis O. J. Killin, et al, Environmental risk factors for dementia: a systematic review, BMC Geriatrics. DOI: 10.1186/s12877-016-0342-y, 12 October 2016, https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1 186/s12877-016-0342-y, cited in press release, Alzheimer’s Research UK, 12 October 2016, http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/environmental -risk-factors-dementia-summarised-new-study/


9 Nead, K.T, et al, ‘Association between androgen deprivation therapy and risk of dementia’, JAMA Oncol. 13 October 2016, doi:10.1001/jamaoncol. 2016.3662, http://jamanetwork.com/journals/ jamaoncology/article-abstract/2569059, cited in press release, Alzheimer’s Research UK, 13 October 2016, at http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/ prostate-cancer-treatment-linked-dementia-risk


10 Kern, J, et al. Calcium supplementation and risk of dementia in women with cerebrovascular disease. Neurology, August 2016 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000003111, cited in press release, Alzheimer’s Research UK, 17 August 2016, at: http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/ calcium-supplements-linked-dementia-risk-women/


11 Scott, G, et al, Amyloid pathology and axonal injury after brain trauma. Neurology, 2016; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002413, cited in press release, Alzheimer’s Society, 3 February 2016, https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/ site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=2551


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