Recent review encourages a positive optimism about dementia prevention. They point out that hip fracture rates have dropped 25% from 1995 to 2005, and age-adjusted stroke rates have dropped 25% in both USA and Australian studies as well. Dementia rates could do the same. – What did they find helps? – Treating hypertension, stop smoking, and increasing exercise showed best results.
Why so negative about preventing cognitive decline and dementia? The jury has already come to the verdict for physical activity and smoking cessation
Leon Flicker, 1 Teresa Liu Ambrose, 2 Arthur F Kramer 3
Br J Sports Med (2010 in press) no abstract
- Considerable dementia might be a mixed picture with both cardiovascular (mini-strokes) and alzheimer components.
- Cochrane found 13% reduction in Alzheimer Dementia (AD) with use of anti-hypertensives. It’s probably higher, but you are never going to see a study where controls with uncontrolled hypertension will remain untreated.
- Smoking increases dementia by average 1.79 times.
- Lots of evidence physical activity helps – in both animal and human studies – one review of studies finds a 30% reduction in dementia.
Comment – I’ve been back to gym – shouldn’t you?