How to reduce the risk of suffering from dementia?

Practicing physical exercise on a regular basis, not smoking, avoiding the harmful use of alcohol, controlling body weight, following a healthy diet and maintaining blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol at appropriate levels can reduce the risk of suffering from dementia according to the guidelines recently published by WHO.      


According to the new guidelines published by the World Health Organization (WHO), exercise regularly, do not smoke, avoid harmful use of alcohol, control body weight, follow a healthy diet and maintain blood pressure, sugar in blood and cholesterol at appropriate levels can reduce the risk of dementia.

It is estimated that in the next 30 years the number of people suffering from dementia will triple, ”explained WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We have to do everything possible to reduce the risk of people suffering from dementia. The scientific information that we have obtained for the elaboration of these guidelines confirms what we had been suspecting for some time: what is good for the heart is good for the brain .

The guidelines provide basic information for health care providers to recommend patients measures that can help prevent cognitive impairment and dementia. They will also guide governments, policy makers and planning authorities in the development of policies and programs to promote healthy lifestyles.

Reduction of risk factors is one of several areas of the WHO global plan of action on the public health response to dementia. Other areas are: the strengthening of information systems on dementia, diagnosis, treatment and care, support for caregivers of people suffering from dementia and research and innovation.