How to prevent dementia

gilly ‘our genes, and our telomeres, are not necessarily our fate’ Dean Ornish.

Meaning that just because you may have a genetic predisposition to something, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop the condition during your lifetime.

More here about how lifestyle changes can affect the length of the telomeres (at the ends of chromosomes) and which are associated with ageing and degenerative conditions.

What Maw says in the paragraph that starts my Dd’s MIL

Thanks for that Jane but maybe I didn’t make my point very well . I shall try again. ...

My meaning is, if one is going to suffer from dementia at some piint in the future (possibly family/genetic link) how can we know whether making lifestyle changes will change the prognosis ?

This quote is from the Alzheimer’s Research website

“There is a growing body of research that shows a link between certain risk factors (mainly the key cardiovascular risk factors) and dementia. Current evidence cannot
tell us how likely any one individual is to develop dementia based on their exposure to these risk factors, but it is important to make people aware of these potential risks and how they can mitigate them. We would like to see more public health messaging surrounding dementia and more proactive initiatives to reduce the possible risks.”

These are the experts. Along with early recognition of the various types of dementia, increased funding for research and development of new drugs and treatments, they highlight that there are increased risk factors linked to lifestyle and want more public awareness.

I’m with GN on this one.

The actual wording was that “prevention is never certain” which is not quite the same as “you can take active measures to reduce your risk of developing...etc”

Dementia affects 1 in 6 people over the age of 80. While prevention is never certain due to the varying effects that this condition has on different individuals, there are lots of little things that you can do now to help you reduce the risk of developing dementia later on in life
BTW I didn’t say anything about not living into old age but “the only sure way ...is not to live that long” - whatever the age.
My Dd’s MIL is younger than me (69) and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 4 years ago.
While a healthy lifestyle can enhance our older years, reduce the possibility of stroke/TIA ‘s and heart disease - the major killer, I remain unconvinced that there is as yet any evidence that we can reduce the likelihood of dementia whether it is by a healthy diet, learning a foreign language, doing a Sudoku a day, drinking red wine or coffe or NOT drinking wine or coffee.
A genetic predisposition seems much more plausible and research is still in its infancy.
Like it or not, articles under the Gransnet “banner” do carry extra weight and carry the GN endorsement.

gilly How do we know that anything really reduces the risk?

Through epidemiological research - studying where diseases are prevalent and what factors link the people who suffer from them.

This is the story of Sir Richard Doll who identified cigarette smoking as the main cause of lung cancer.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.news-medical.net/amp/news/2005/07/25/11957.aspx

Assuming a number 39 bus doesn't get you first. It's not worth worrying about Maybelle it is what it is and it's the same for me it might never happen so really not worthy of worry, just live for today.

Sometimes, and from a purely personal view point, foreknowledge of this diagnosis is almost too much to bear.
We were told a couple of years ago that DH was at increased risk of dementia, he had just been diagnosed with short term cognitive memory disorder.
Both being caused by a blow to the head years ago, apparently. Nothing we can or could do to change things.
Hard to live in the moment when you know what your likely future will be.

How do we know that anything really reduces the risk? How do we know that it isn't just purely a matter of genetics and you will either get it or you won't?.... and that no amount of life style changes, giving up alcohol, staying active etc. will make any difference.

Well if eating well and keeping fit meant you were guaranteed a long and healthy life I'd live to be well over 100 and that's simply not going to happen. If I live to be 88 I'll think I've had a result, it's a good age, jeez I'll be lucky to see 70 and I'm not the only one. I can understand being diagnosed with dementia may be devastating, we all want to be healthy but at 88 it's hardly tragic.

Maccy I’m sorry to read about your mother.

Which article?
Identifying risk factors isn’t the same as suggesting that diseases can always be prevented.
People still die of lung cancer, but many thousands of such deaths have been prevented by following the advice that smoking is a risk factor.

No one forces you to read these articles or follow their suggestions. There is evidence that poor lifestyle can lead to all sorts of conditions though.

Are you seriously suggesting that this advice should be withheld?

I agree with all that's being said.
Sadly dying young does not stop you developing dementia. I used to chat on the AS forum to a man in his 40s.

It really doesn't bother me but I guess it should as I have an auto immune condition that has already caused several strokes and is destroying my joints one by one and will lead to vascular dementia, deep joy. Seriously, I need to survive long enough first and secondly I've already put in place all the steps I can to ensure my kids don't struggle too much. Apart from that it's one day at a time. I asked my Gp what he thought and he said if he had to name one person not likely to develop it that would be me but he sees such a range of people who shouldn't have it and and those that should have it and don't and they all develop at such differing rates so all you can do is wait and see.

I know the official line is that it isn't hereditary but two friends of mine, who are sisters, have Alzheimer's as did their mum and two dentists (brothers) who have vascular dementia as did their mother!

And another.

Life deals good things and crap -you just have to take what you get when it comes to dementia. You either get it or you don't.

Agreed.

Hear hear.
You can’t
The only way to be 100% sure of avoiding dementia is not to live that long.

I hate the false hopes it raises and the underlying guilt perhaps which assails the partners of sufferers.
I think GN is entirely out of order to give articles such as these any space at all.