A simple recipe for reducing risk of dementia diagnosis
DOCTOR LIZ Williams is fond of a famous Theodore Roosevelt quote when it comes to illustrating the importance of adjusting your lifestyle at an early age in reducing the risk of developing dementia – “Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young.”
She used the witty words of the former US president to make a serious point at a recent public meeting of the Yorkshire branch of the Alzheimer’s Research UK Network in Sheffield.
Dr Williams, a senior lecturer in human nutrition at the University of Sheffield, says studies show that pursuing a healthy lifestyle from middle age does cut a person’s risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer’s.
She says dietary advice can be confusing, particularly when newspaper headlines claim everything from chocolate to red wine can help avoid dementia. But she says it should not be an excuse to ignore diet completely.
“Sometimes the general public can throw their hands in the air and say ‘I’m confused’. But in general the dietary advice we receive from reliable sources is sound.”
Public awareness of dementia is growing, with an estimated 850,000 people suffering with some form of the condition and one in three of us having a family member or close friend affected by it. With the number of patients with dementia expected to hit one million in the UK by 2020, there is an increasing scientific focus on ways in which individuals can minimise their risks.
The condition, most commonly caused by Alzheimer’s disease, affects people’s ability to remember, think, plan and communicate.
The diseases that cause dementia get slowly worse until someone is unable to walk, talk, dress or go to the toilet without help. Sadly, while there are treatments that can help with the symptoms, there is currently no way to slow or stop the diseases that cause dementia.
But while age is the biggest risk factor with dementia and genetics also plays an important part, recent research published in The Lancet journal has suggested around onethird of a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease may be due to modifiable lifestyle factors.
Dr Williams says that as many of the risk factors for dementia are similar to those for heart disease, taking an approach along the lines of ‘What’s good for the heart is good for the head’ can be a productive one.
She says middle-aged people can take a series of simple steps to reduce their risk – stopping smoking, getting regular exercise, eating diets rich in fruits, vegetables and fish and avoiding drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
“Adapting a healthy lifestyle now will help ward off dementia as it does with other diseases,” she says.
“Dementia has been long neglected and it frustrates me. All the time we are told we must have a good pension for the future but thinking about our health now is possibly the best investment you can make.”
She says recent research has particularly suggested a ‘Mediterranean diet’ can pay dividends in reducing the risk of developing problems with memory and thinking, and getting some forms of dementia.
“One study that has come out with the greatest evidence of protecting against Alzheimer’s disease is the Mediterranean diet,” she said.
Such a diet is typically made up of fruit, vegetables, fish and olive oil, along with a low intake of meat and sugar. The theory is that high levels of antioxidants and proteins can protect brain cells from damage.
But Dr Williams is clear the diet is only one part of the jigsaw when it comes to preventing dementia. “Tell your children, tell your families, about the importance of a healthy lifestyle to ward off dementia in later life.”
Three-quarters of people don’t know lifestyle choices can help with avoiding dementia. Now a Yorkshire expert says a few simple steps can go a long way. Chris Burn reports.