World Health: Eating healthy and exercising reduces the risk of dementia

Health and Medical

The World Health Organization [WHO] said today that all people should exercise more, eat a healthy diet and reduce alcohol to reduce the risk of dementia.

In her advice to people trying to avoid brain disorder, UN health chiefs said diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity must be controlled.

A huge review of the existing evidence found that age was the strongest risk factor for memory theft – but it is not an inevitable consequence of aging.

There are already more than 50 million people worldwide with dementia, and this figure is expected to double to 152 million by 2050.

Although it can not be treated or prevented with any certainty, people who care about themselves and their health may have less chance of getting it, the report said.

The scientists reacted by calling for more action on drugs to treat dementia and said the report would clarify what they already knew.

International health experts published WHO guidelines on reducing the risks of cognitive decline and dementia.

"While age is the strongest known risk factor for cognitive decline, dementia is not a natural or inevitable consequence of aging," the researchers said in the introduction to the report.

"Many recent studies have shown a link between the development of cognitive impairment and dementia with lifestyle-related risk factors, such as physical inactivity, tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and harmful use of alcohol," the report authors write.

Dr. Carol Rotledge, research director of the charity, described the WHO report as a "valuable source" containing "the best possible information."

– Health