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Six Health Checks to Cut Dementia Risk
20 Sep
Summary
- High blood pressure in midlife significantly raises dementia risk.
- High cholesterol damages brain blood vessels, increasing risk.
- Obesity between 35-65 boosts dementia risk by 30%.
Scientists are identifying lifestyle factors that increase dementia risk, with processes beginning years before symptoms emerge. Research indicates that conditions associated with cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, elevate the likelihood of developing dementia.
Professor Gill Livingston of UCL highlights six critical health measures for middle-aged individuals. Elevated blood pressure, often asymptomatic, can damage brain blood vessels. Similarly, high LDL cholesterol can lead to arterial plaque buildup, restricting blood flow to the brain.
Raised blood sugar and insulin resistance are also implicated in cognitive decline. Furthermore, hearing loss and untreated sight problems are linked to cognitive health, as is obesity, which can increase dementia risk by approximately 30% in midlife.
