Almost half of adults in the UK (48%) can not name a single risk factor for dementia, according to a study by Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The survey of more than 2,300 adults found just one in three people believes it is possible to reduce their risk of developing dementia. This is despite experts believing that a third of all cases of dementia are influenced by factors that are under people’s control, such as leading a healthy lifestyle.
Although some cases of dementia are caused by genetics, this doesn’t apply to all of them. Factors known to increase your risk of dementia include:
1. Heavy drinking - it’s advised you stay within the recommended 14 units per week to reduce your risk.
2. Smoking.
3. High blood pressure - maintaining a health weight can reduce your risk of high blood pressure.
4. Depression.
5. Diabetes - maintaining a health weight and cutting sugar intake can reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Exercise is also known to help protect against dementia.
Just 1% of adults surveyed were able to name all the known risk or protective factors for dementia.
Almost half (49%) of people said they did not know dementia was a cause of death, while 22% incorrectly said it was an inevitable part of getting older. Meanwhile, two in five people (42%) named dementia as the health condition they feared the most.
“Many of these enduring misconceptions influence attitudes to research, with the Dementia Attitudes Monitor showing that those who believe dementia is an inevitable part of ageing are also less likely to value a formal diagnosis or to engage with research developments that could bring about life-changing preventions and treatments,” Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, commented.
“Making breakthroughs in public understanding has the potential to empower more people to take steps to maintain their own brain health, to seek a diagnosis and to support research that has the power to transform lives.”