Struggling to remember names? Always misplacing your keys? Forgetfulness is a natural part of ageing, but occasionally it can be a sign of something more serious, such as dementia*. The condition affects almost 950,000 people in the UK, with women more at risk than men, found a report by Alzheimer's Society. And numbers are set to soar to 1.6 million by 2040.
'Many people fear dementia runs in the family, but in the vast majority of cases it's not inherited,' explains Kensa Morgan, Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK. While there's no cure yet, it's possible to delay development. 'Getting older is undeniably the biggest risk factor, however research shows that one in three cases are preventable.' Here's how to help ward off cognitive decline.
1 Look after your heart
What's good for your heart is good for your brain, says Kensa. 'We know raised cholesterol and high blood pressure damages our cardiovascular system, which in turn affects our brain.' Keeping cholesterol between 50 to 60 mg/dL can reduce the risk. People with levels higher than 80 mg/dL have a 27% increased chance of developing dementia within six years, a study by Monash University, in Australia, revealed. Not sure of your cholesterol readings? Speak to your pharmacist and ask for a finger-prick test.
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