Never too late: addressing modifiable dementia risk factors

Dementia is the second leading cause of death for all Australians, with 433,300 Australians currently living with the condition. Yet, as new data released by Dementia Australia reveals, Australians are largely unaware that common health issues such as depression, hearing loss and high cholesterol are risk factors for dementia.

Last year, the Lancet Commission identified 14 modifiable risk factors that, if addressed effectively, could reduce the incidence of dementia by 45% globally. Yet, recent survey research by iPsos — of Australian attitudes towards dementia — found that many Australians remained unaware that proactive steps can help reduce dementia risk.

In addition to depression, hearing loss and high cholesterol, dementia risk factors include physical inactivity, obesity and smoking. Regarding one of these (hearing loss), Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said that those with mild-to-severe hearing loss are two to five times as likely to develop dementia compared with those with normal hearing.

Buchanan also said: “While we cannot change getting older, genetics or family history, scientific research shows that looking after our brain health can make a big difference to reducing or delaying the risk of developing dementia.”

A University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing three-year clinical trial — ‘Maintain Your Brain’ — led by Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor Henry Brodaty AO, for example, has shown that looking after brain health slows cognitive decline.

Testing whether effectively addressing some of the modifiable risk factors for dementia resulted in better cognition in older adults over a three-year period, Brodaty said: “The outcome was a resounding yes — we can improve cognition over three years and, therefore, likely enhance resilience to dementia.”

Describing dementia as “the leading health, disability and aged care issue facing Australia”, Brodaty emphasised the importance of being proactive. “Australians across their life and nearly 30,000 Australians live with younger onset dementia,” Brodaty said. “The research is clear that dementia is a condition that starts many decades before symptoms appear. So, it is vital that all Australians understand the importance of maintaining brain health throughout our lives.”

Brodaty’s message is: “It is never too early or too late to reduce your dementia risk.”

More information on modifiable risk factors that impact brain health can be found here, via the Dementia Australia website.

If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, please call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or visit dementia.org.au.

Image credit: iStock.com/dusanpetkovic