Question:
The "Nutrition Bite" about vitamin D and dementia (April 1) was worrying. Does the study imply that all people over 70 should take a vitamin D supplement to prevent dementia or only people in the Northern Hemisphere? If it is that effective, why is it not in the general advice list, like exercise and socialising, to avoid or delay dementia?
Answer:
About 70,000 New Zealanders are living with dementia today, but that number is predicted to grow to 170,000 by 2050 as our population steadily ages. And the effects of dementia are widely felt, with Alzheimers New Zealand's 2021 Dementia Economic Impact Report estimating that partners of people living with dementia provide over one million hours of unpaid care each week. That burden can cause stress, depression and a range of other health complications for carers. Undoubtedly, then, maintaining our cognitive health in later life is a priority, so what should we do?
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Denne historien er fra July 22 - 28 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
