WHO issues guidelines to prevent up to 45% of dementia risk
WHO issues guidelines to prevent up to 45% of dementia risk
WHO issues guidelines to prevent up to 45% of dementia risk
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, providing countries with evidence-based recommendations to help prevent or delay the onset of dementia across the life course. According to the WHO, up to 45% of dementia risk can be attributed to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol use, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including high blood pressure and diabetes.
Dementia is a condition caused by brain diseases and affects memory, thinking, and the ability to function. More than 57 million people live with dementia worldwide, and nearly 10 million people get newly diagnosed every year. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and is estimated to account for 60-70% of cases.
The WHO's new guidelines reflect the latest evidence and innovations in dementia risk reduction, providing proven interventions that can effectively lower dementia risk through early awareness and timely action. The guidelines recommend several healthy behaviors and lifestyle interventions to reduce dementia risk, including cognitive training and cognitive stimulation, engagement in social activities, increasing physical activity, stopping tobacco use, reducing alcohol consumption, adopting a healthy diet, and reducing exposure to air pollution.
Management of cardiometabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol can also help reduce dementia risk. Additionally, hearing aids may be offered as part of risk-reduction strategies. The guidelines do not recommend supplementation with vitamins B and E, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and multivitamins/minerals in the absence of a diagnosed deficiency, due to the lack of evidence of any potential benefits to outweigh unexpected harmful effects.
The WHO's updated guidelines build on the organization's first dementia guidelines issued in 2019, reflecting new scientific evidence gathered over the past several years. The guidelines aim to promote early awareness and intervention in a bid to reduce the burden of dementia in the coming decades. Although more common after 65, the condition is not an inevitable part of aging, the WHO insisted.
"We know more today than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and these guidelines translate that knowledge into action," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "Countries now have clear, evidence-based recommendations they can put into practice immediately to protect people's cognitive health."
Understanding risk factors and taking action to prevent dementia can improve health and quality of life, helping people live longer, healthier, and more independent lives. Dementia affects an individual’s ability to live independently, work and function, while placing substantial burdens on families and carers. It carries a major economic loss, costing the global economy an estimated US$ 1.3 trillion annually. About half of this cost is driven by unpaid care provided by families and friends.
