Lancet report on dementia shows how to avoid the disease

Experts have revealed 13 tips to reduce your risk of getting dementia – and the earlier you start, the better, as the number of people living with the disease is predicted to triple by 2050.

A good education early in life and regular physical exercise from childhood can help cut the risk of developing dementia by almost half.

These known modifiable risks are among 14 listed in the 2024 Lancet Commission on Dementia report released on Thursday.

For the first time it has added high LDL cholesterol and vision loss as among the greatest risks to developing the disease that impacts more than 420,000 Australians.

The authors say more action is needed globally with the number of people living with the disease expected to triple by 2050.

Data shows the importance of being cognitively active throughout life and reducing vascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure.

The authors have also made 13 recommendations to help reduce the risks that include:

• wearing helmets and head protection in contact sports and on bikes

• reducing sugar and salt content in food sold in stores and restaurants

• providing all children with quality education

• staying cognitively active in midlife

• making hearing aids readily available and reduce harmful noise exposure

Dementia is the term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking and the ability to perform daily activities.

The authors want governments and individuals to be ambitious about tackling the risks at all ages, saying the earlier in life, the better.

“(The report) is a one-stop shop for all things related to dementia,” David Ames says. The University of Melbourne and Florey Institute emeritus professor is one of the 27 international dementia experts who co-authored the report.

He says it was a free tool updated every three years and brings together information not only on risk factors, but also treatments and the best care globally to better understand the disease.

Professor Ames says the tool, published online by the major medical journal The Lancet, is a repository of information.

The report calls for all children to be provided with quality education and be cognitively active in midlife.

“It is an attempt to take all the literature that’s been published about dementia and to look at everything that’s been written about care, about diagnosis, treatment, and put it in one place where people can get access to it,” Professor Ames said.

It also highlights what can be done to avoid dementia in all phases of life.

“We can all do something to avoid the risk,” Professor Ames says.

“We’ve looked at early life risk factors, midlife risk factors, and late-life risk factors and something like giving up smoking can make a difference, even if you’re in your 60s.

“I think for children, the most important thing is early education.”

The authors say the data also shows the importance of being cognitively active throughout life and using head protection in contact sports; reducing vascular risk factors (such as high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure); improving air quality; and providing supportive community environments to increase social contact.

Dementia is on the rise globally, but experts say if modifiable risk factors are addressed, it could prevent or delay nearly half of cases. Picture: Supplied

The report was presented on Thursday morning at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia.

It found that despite dementia set to rise globally, if the 14 modifiable risk factors are addressed starting in childhood and continuing throughout life, it could prevent or delay nearly half of dementia cases.

“Every time we do one of these (updates) there’s more literature being published, more information available,” Professor Ames said.

Lead author Professor Gill Livingston from University College London said the report revealed there was much more that could and should be done.

“We now have stronger evidence that longer exposure to risk has a greater effect and that risks act more strongly in people who are vulnerable,” he said.

“That’s why it is vital that we redouble preventive efforts towards those who need them most, including those in low and middle income countries and socio-economically disadvantaged groups.”

The report authors have made recommendations that include reducing sugar and salt content in food. Picture: iStock

Originally published as Lancet report on dementia shows how to avoid the disease