How to lower dementia risk: five things to do, from ditching red meat to reading and playing chess
- New research has found that people can lower their risk of dementia by up to 60 per cent by making improvements in five areas of their lives
- Even making one better choice in the five areas – diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption and cognitive stimulation – can make a big difference
Here’s a to-do list for preventing dementia, new research suggests: ditch red meat, take a brisk walk to the grocery store, do the Sunday crossword and stick to one glass of wine at dinner.
A study presented on Sunday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Los Angeles found that combining five lifestyle habits – including eating healthier, exercising regularly and refraining from smoking – can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by 60 per cent.
A separate study showed that lifestyle choices can lower risk even for those who have a genetic predisposition to the disease.
The report, compiled by the Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago, tracked 2,765 individuals over about a decade.
Researchers say that, as with heart disease, combating dementia will probably require a “cocktail” approach combining drugs and lifestyle changes.
All participants were older adults enrolled in either the Chicago Health and Ageing Project (CHAP) or the Rush Memory and Ageing Project (MAP) – both federally funded, long-term observational studies that examine mental decline among ageing Chicago residents.