There may not be a cure for dementia but there are ways of slowing it down and maintaining mental function


Who’s at risk? Age is one of the risk factors for dementia, and according to the Alzheimer’s Society, six out of 100 people aged 75 - 79 are affected. The risk becomes higher as we get older, and at the age of 85 - 89, 18 out of 100 people are affected. In other words, the older you are, the more likely you are to develop dementia – though it is by no means an inevitable part of ageing. Genetics is another risk factor, though it’s very rare for dementia to


be inherited directly. However there are some genes that can run in families that make people more vulnerable to developing dementia, including a gene called ApoE4. This gene can be inherited from either parent or both parents. The Alzheimer’s Society has calculated that 11 out of every 100


people aged 75 with one copy of the ApoE4 gene will have dementia, compared with six out of every 100 with no copies of the gene (having two copies of the ApoE4 gene makes dementia even more likely, but this is quite rare). In other words if you have a parent or grandparent with dementia,


your risk may be slightly higher than someone who doesn’t have a family history of dementia – it doesn’t mean dementia is inevitable for you. Meanwhile some other health conditions may increase your


dementia risk, including type 2 diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure in middle age. There is also some evidence that people from certain ethnic


backgrounds have a higher risk of developing dementia than others, including those of South Asian, African and African-Caribbean descent. Women are also more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than


men, though it’s not clear why (for most other types of dementia both sexes have more or less the same risk, though men have a slightly higher risk of vascular dementia than women).


Lifestyle choices According to the Alzheimer’s Society, making certain lifestyle choices can also affect your chances of developing dementia. Smoking and drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk, whereas staying physically active, keeping your weight at a healthy level and socialising may help protect against dementia. There may not be a cure for dementia but there are ways of slowing


it down and maintaining mental function. Getting the condition diagnosed by your GP in the early stages can mean you’ll get the right treatment and support, which could help you carry on leading an active, fulfilled life. Indeed, during the early stages of dementia many people can live


independently in their own home and enjoy life as they did before they were diagnosed. As the illness progresses, however, you may need more help with day-to-day tasks such as housework and shopping, and you may need adaptations to your home to make life easier. You can find out more about the treatments and help available for


people diagnosed with dementia by speaking to your local Careway pharmacist. You can also look for local support services for people with dementia and their carers where you live by visiting www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you. The charity Dementia UK (www.dementiauk.org) also offers lots of


support and help for people living with dementia. Meanwhile you can learn more about what it's like to live with dementia by becoming a Dementia Friend at www.dementiafriends.org.uk.


How to reduce your risk


Since lifestyle is thought to play a part in the development of dementia, living as healthy a lifestyle as possible may help reduce your chances of developing it. Here are some of the things you can do to reduce your dementia risk:


Keep moving Aim for 150 minutes of moderate- intensity exercise a week (for example you can split this up into 30 minutes of activity five times a week).


Eat healthily A healthy balanced diet may help reduce your risk of dementia as well as other conditions. Try to get at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day and limit the amount of sugar, salt and saturated fat in your diet.


Quit smoking Smoking may increase your risk of dementia. If you need help with giving up smoking, your local Careway pharmacist can offer advice and support.


Drink in moderation Aim to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol every week, spreading your units out over at least three days.


Train your brain Many experts believe keeping your mind active can be useful. Try starting a new hobby or learning a new language, doing puzzles or playing cards.


All About health 43


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