Embrace healthy lifestyle to prevent dementia, claim scientists

Researchers have revealed that people could be saved from developing Alzheimer's disease with the help of just few simple alterations in their lifestyle.

The research established seven key risk factors which were likely to trigger the condition; diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise, depression, smoking and poor education; which were mostly linked to unhealthy living and they could easily be modified in order to prevent dementia in people, the Daily Express reported.

Dr Deborah Barnes, said that although there was no single way to prevent dementia but they might be able to take steps to reduce the risk of developing it by simply tackling physical inactivity, for example, reducing levels of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

She further added that it would be a win-win situation as this would also help people to enter in old age in a healthier state and therefore would have a lower risk of developing dementia.

The study established that at least 820,000 people in Britain suffered from dementia but by 2050 it was believed that there would be 1.94 million, of which 650,000 cases would be preventable.

The research is published in the journal Lancet Neurology.