Around 45 percent of the risk of dementia can be prevented or delayed if smoking, air pollution, physical inactivity and other controllable risk factors are addressed, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. Setting out the finding in a statement published on 18 July, the organisation also released updated guidance on preventing dementia.
According to the WHO, dementia is the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. It is one of the main causes of physical disability and dependence on others, particularly among older people. The condition has a serious effect on memory, thinking and the ability to carry out everyday tasks.
More than 5 crore 70 lakh people worldwide currently have dementia. About one crore people develop the condition each year. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s, which accounts for about 60 to 70 percent of all cases.
The director of the World Health Organization’s department of noncommunicable diseases and mental health, Dévora Kestel, said dementia affects not only the person with the condition but their family and society deeply. It has a long-term negative effect on people’s health, independence, dignity and quality of life.
The organisation said that although there is no permanent cure for dementia, the risk can be reduced in many cases. Preventable risks include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution, high blood pressure, diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases.
In the new guidance published to support health workers and policymakers, the WHO noted that the scientific evidence on preventing dementia has grown stronger since 2019. The organisation’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said countries now have evidence-based and effective recommendations for protecting mental and cognitive health. He added that although dementia generally appears more after the age of 65, it is not an inevitable part of ageing.
The WHO advises that cognitive stimulation activities and specialised training can be beneficial for adults with mild mental and cognitive problems. It also stresses keeping high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol under control.
By the World Health Organization’s calculation, dementia costs the world economy about 1.3 trillion US dollars a year. Almost half of that is associated with unpaid care given by patients’ families and relatives. The organisation has therefore placed particular emphasis on raising awareness of the risk factors for dementia and taking preventive measures in time.
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