Half of older Americans fear that they’ll develop dementia — why most of their prevention methods are all wrong

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Taking supplements and doing crossword puzzles isn’t helping you as much as you think.

Nearly half of Americans in their 50s and early 60s fear that they’re likely to develop dementia as they age, but only 5.2% of them have actually talked with a doctor about steps they could take to reduce the risk, a study published this month concluded. What’s more, some people turned to crossword puzzles and other similar solutions that have no proven preventative effect.

Interest in treatment and prevention have shifted earlier in the disease process. Policy and physicians should emphasize evidence-based strategies. —New research paper published in JAMA “Interest in treatment and prevention have shifted earlier in the disease process,” it said. “Adults in middle age may not accurately estimate their risk of developing dementia.

A separate study recently published in the peer-reviewed JAMA found that living a healthy lifestyle could help you reduce your risk of dementia, even if you have a genetic risk of the disease. The study analyzed data from 196,383 adults of European ancestry aged 60 and older. Of that sample, the researchers identified 1,769 cases of dementia over a follow-up period of eight years.

That study, published Monday by scientists at the University of Exeter and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Los Angeles, said that those who were more likely to develop dementia reported eating more sugar and salt, and did not engage in regular physical activity, smoked cigarettes and drank more than a moderate amount of alcohol.

 

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