Drinking less and exercising more cuts risk of dementia
Public Health England says one in three cases of dementia could be prevented if people also quit smoking, ate well and socialised more
GPs will tell patients to booze less and exercise more to cut their dementia risk.
Public Health England says one in three cases could be prevented if people also quit smoking, ate well and socialised more.
Some 850,000 adults are thought to live with the brain-wasting condition, costing the economy £26billion a year. This could hit one million by 2021.
In a new drive, doctors will stress the effect of lifestyle on dementia risk.
Their message will be “what’s good for the heart’s good for the brain”.
They will give patients the advice in NHS Health Checks, on offer to 40 to 74-year-olds.
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Almost seven million people have had the 15-minute assessment including blood pressure and cholesterol tests.
Some 52 per cent of adults name dementia as one of their top health worries but few understand of risk factors.
Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It takes hold of the brain decades before symptoms appear, so empowering people to get fit and eat healthier from age 40 is crucial.”
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