Many people don’t realise that a healthy lifestyle will help reduce their risk of developing dementia, a new survey has revealed.
Alzheimer’s Research UK questioned adults as part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the fact that the condition is not, as some people believe, an inevitable part of the ageing process.
Only a quarter of those surveyed were aware that not smoking, eating better and getting regular exercise could all lower the risk of someone being diagnosed with dementia in later life.
Interestingly, when informed about the benefits of these simple lifestyle changes, many said they would consider altering their habits.
Hilary Evans, the chief executive of the charity, admitted that there was no guaranteed way to prevent a person developing dementia, but a number of fairly straightforward steps could definitely limit the risk.
“Increasingly, research is showing that what’s good for your heart is also good for your head, and with the number of people with dementia on the increase it’s vital that this message reaches the public,” she said.
Professor Alistair Burns, the national clinical director for dementia at NHS England, added: “These figures show that public understanding of dementia risk factors is low, and we must work to change that if we are to help reduce the number of people developing the condition.
“Encouragingly, these figures suggest that when given the right information, many people are motivated to make lifestyle choices to help lower their dementia risk.”
At EnViva Care, our experienced staff can provide managed care in the home for individuals with conditions including dementia. For more information about the services we provide, please contact us
0300 303 3504