Dementia: 12 ‘modifiable’ risk factors for dementia – Lancet study on ways to lower risk
Research shows that a lower risk of developing dementia is associated with:
- Higher levels of education
- More mentally demanding occupations
- Cognitive stimulation such as reading, doing puzzles or crosswords, or learning a second language.
A review of brain reserve and cognitive decline, combining the data from 22 studies and over 29,000 participants, found a 46 percent lower risk of dementia in those with high levels of mental activity than those with low mental activity.
Being socially active (for example meeting friends or volunteering) can help to reduce dementia risk by:
- Improving your mood
- Relieving stress
- Reducing the risk of depression
- Reducing loneliness.
How do I know if I have dementia?
Dementia is not a disease itself. It’s a collection of symptoms that result from damage to the brain caused by different diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk