A recent global report is stating that up to 80,000 people can protect themselves from dementia if they take preventative measures over waiting for the cure. The data, which will be put forward at the World Innovation Summit for Health in Doha, shows that careful changes to diet and exercise, and engaging in cerebral activities such as crosswords and Haikus can rescue people in thousands from the degenerative disease.
Writing in 'The Telegraph', Lord Darzi, surgeon, former Labour health minister and chairman for the Summit said individuals should adopt a "use it or lose it"approach when it comes to the mass of electric impulses known as one's brain. He wrote with fervour as predictions state that people could be saved in the millions by the year 2040, if they subscribe to a more active lifestyle. He states that as opposed to “twisting our hands in despair" we can “look after our brains – sharpen those chess skills, pick up that crossword and solve that puzzle.” Drawing on evidence that suggests dementia sets in during the late forties he said: "eating a healthy diet, avoiding obesity and getting plenty of exercise are all important to brain health because what is good for our hearts is also good for our heads."
George McNamara, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Society announced that it is “no longer possible to ignore the growing mountain of persuasive evidence that modifying certain lifestyle factors may reduce the risk of developing dementia (…) with numbers rising and costs soaring we need all of society to lead the fight against a condition which represents our biggest health and social care challenge.” These new medical findings are taken from test subjects-1,200 men and women in their 60s and 70s from Finland- where half made changes to their eating, brain and social activity and yielded significantly healthier results.
