Targeting 12 modifiable risk factors throughout life could reduce Dementia cases by 40%

Targeting 12 modifiable risk factors throughout life could reduce Dementia cases by 40%

* HMC experts advocate early adoption of healthy lifestyle changes to delay or prevent dementia   The Lancet Commission 2020 report on ‘Dementia prevention, intervention, and care’ has estimated that the number of dementia cases worldwide could be reduced by 40% if 12 risk factors for the condition could be fully eliminated. Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) National Dementia Risk Reduction team is working to raise public awareness of 12 modifiable risk factors that have been identified as potentially having a significant impact on a person’s overall health and their propensity for getting some form of dementia later in life. The risk factors include less education in early life. Hearing loss, Traumatic brain injury, Hypertension as well as Diabetes and Obesity in middle life. Smoking, Depression, Social isolation, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and air pollution make up the remaining risk factors.