How to reduce your risk

There is no sure way to prevent dementia, but research suggests that the risk of developing such diseases can be reduced with a healthy lifestyle and diet. This does not mean that you will not develop dementia, but it can reduce your likelihood of doing so.

Research suggests that a person's risk of dementia can be reduced if they:

• Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables
• Take regular exercise
• Don't smoke
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Lower their intake of salt
• Reduce the amount of saturated fat in their diet
• Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol levels with their GP
• Stimulate the mind - do crosswords, play chess, add up the shopping before getting to the cashier
• Avoid head injuries; for example by wearing a helmet when cycling
• Enjoy an active life with lots of outside interests and hobbies
• Eat oily fish or seafood every week - this hasn't yet been proven to reduce a person's risk of dementia, but many scientists believe it could be beneficial to do so.

Since several possible risk factors for Alzheimer's are also linked to heart disease and stroke, it is possible that measures to protect against these diseases could also help prevent dementia. It can do no harm to pursue a healthy lifestyle by keeping fit and active and eating a balanced diet.

People who have Down's syndrome or other medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, diabetes, or an HIV infection have a higher risk of developing dementia.

There are often pieces of publicity highlighting a particular risk factor, but it is important to consider the overall picture and not simply to focus on one piece of research in isolation. It is also important to remember that having a higher risk of developing dementia does not mean that someone will inevitably get the disease - it just increases the chances that they will.

Everyone is at risk of developing dementia. The work of the Alzheimer's Research Trust is aimed at helping everyone affected by Alzheimer's and related diseases and eliminating the risk to us all in the future.

For a free booklet on dementia, please email your name and full postal address to enquiries@alzheimers-research.org.uk or phone us on 01223 843899.