Share
If you want to save your brain, focus on keeping the rest of your body well with exercise and healthy habits rather than popping vitamin pills, new guidelines for preventing dementia advise.
About 50 million people currently have dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type. Each year brings 10 million new cases, says the report released Tuesday by the World Health Organization.
Although age is the top risk factor, “dementia is not a natural or inevitable consequence of aging,” it says.
Many health conditions and behaviors affect the odds of developing it, and research suggests that a third of cases are preventable, said Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, which has published similar advice.
Since dementia is currently incurable and so many experimental therapies have failed, focusing on prevention may “give us more benefit in the shorter term,” Carrillo said.
Much of the WHO’s advice is common sense, and echoes what the U.S. National Institute on Aging says.
Having an Active Social Life and Avoiding or Curbing Harmful Habits
That includes getting enough exercise; treating other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol; having an active social life, and avoiding or curbing harmful habits such as smoking, overeating and drinking too much alcohol. Evidence is weak that some of these help preserve thinking skills, but they’re known to aid general health, the WHO says.
Eating well, and possibly following a Mediterranean-style diet, may help prevent dementia, the guidelines say. But they take a firm stance against vitamin B or E pills, fish oil or multi-complex supplements that are promoted for brain health because there’s strong research showing they don’t work.
“There is currently no evidence to show that taking these supplements actually reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, and in fact, we know that in high doses these can be harmful,” said the WHO’s Dr. Neerja Chowdhary.
“People should be looking for these nutrients through food … not through supplements,” Carrillo agreed.
The WHO also did not endorse games and other activities aimed at boosting thinking skills. These can be considered for people with normal capacities or mild impairment, but there’s low to very low evidence of benefit.
There’s not enough evidence to recommend antidepressants to reduce dementia risk although they may be used to treat depression, the report says. Hearing aids also may not reduce dementia risk, but older people should be screened for hearing loss and treated accordingly.
RELATED TOPICS:
A Path Forward on Immigration Reform That Strengthens America
36 minutes ago
France Shuts Schools, Italy Limits Outdoor Work as Heatwave Grips Europe
37 minutes ago
Powell Reiterates Fed Will Wait for More Data Before Cutting Rates
45 minutes ago
Visalia Police Investigate Morning Shooting Outside Bethlehem Center
59 minutes ago
US Senate Republicans Struggling to Unite on Trump’s $3.3 Trillion Tax-Cut Bill
1 hour ago
Trump Escalates Feud With Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support
1 hour ago
Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman
16 hours ago
Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating
16 hours ago
Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill
17 hours ago
Homeland Security Secretary Noem Says CNN May Be Prosecuted Over Report on Migration App
16 minutes ago
Categories

Homeland Security Secretary Noem Says CNN May Be Prosecuted Over Report on Migration App

Musk Promises a New Political Party if the GOP Bill Passes

Dollar Gains Ground Against Major Peers After Better-Than-Expected US Jobs Data

A Path Forward on Immigration Reform That Strengthens America

France Shuts Schools, Italy Limits Outdoor Work as Heatwave Grips Europe

Powell Reiterates Fed Will Wait for More Data Before Cutting Rates
