According to the NHS, there are more than 944,000 people in the UK who have dementia - and this is increasing because we’re living longer.
The government said that by 2030, it is estimated that more than one million people in the UK will be living with the syndrome.
Dementia risk is lowest in people who have healthy behaviours in mid-life (aged 40–65).
However, experts say there while no single behaviour is guaranteed to prevent dementia altogether, there are steps to take to reduce your risk.
These include keeping active, eating healthily and exercising your mind to keep it as sharp as possible.
The top tips for preventing dementia
Here are five top tips that may help to prevent dementia.
Get physical
Staying active is one way to reduce your risk of developing dementia.
Doing regular physical activity is good for your heart, circulation, weight and mental wellbeing, and means all of your body is staying active and alert as you age.
The two main types of physical exertion – aerobic activity and strength-building activity - help in different ways, so a combination of the two works best.
According to The Alzheimer's Society: “Research has shown that people who take regular exercise may be up to 20% less likely to develop dementia than those who don't take regular exercise. This came from some analysis that combined the results of 58 studies into exercise and dementia.
“It has been shown that going from being inactive to doing some amount of exercise has the biggest impact. Sustaining physical activity throughout midlife also seems to have the best effect on reducing dementia risk.”
Reduce the booze
Drinking too much alcohol on a long-term basis can increase your risk of developing dementia as you are exposing your brain to high levels of harmful chemicals.
“If you regularly drink alcohol, try to do so in moderation and within recommended limits.” The Alzheimer’s Society said.
“Try to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol each week. This is equal to about one pint of beer or a small glass of wine each day. If you regularly drink much more than this, you are increasing your risk of damage to your brain and other organs, and so increasing your risk of dementia.”
Quit smoking
Smoking does a lot of harm to the circulation of blood around the body, particularly the blood vessels in the brain, as well as the heart and lungs.
Experts warn that if you smoke, you’re putting yourself at a much higher risk of developing dementia later in life.
Reduce stresses and boost your social life
According to The Alzheimer’s Society, studies have shown that depression is a risk factor for dementia.
“If you feel you might be getting depressed, seek help early. If you often feel low, anxious or irritable, talk to your GP or contact a mental health organisation, such as Mind,” the society said.
“Social isolation can also greatly increase a person’s risk of dementia. Engaging in social activities may help to build up your brain’s ability to relieve stress and improve your mood.”
Protect your head
Traumatic brain injuries are caused by a blow or jolt to the head and these can affect a person long term, and make it more likely to be diagnosed with a brain condition in later life.
A brain injury can start a process in the brain where the substances that cause Alzheimer’s disease build up around the injured area.
Experts at the Alzheimer’s Society say: “Wear protective headgear in situations where there is a higher-than-normal risk of head injury – for example, riding a bike, working on a building site, horse-riding or playing cricket.
“More research is needed to fully understand the amount of long-term dementia risk involved in contact sports like rugby or football. It’s important that coaching staff know how to deal with concussions and other head injuries.”
Read also: Want to stay sharper and live longer? The London clinic offering brain health checks for £12k
