Study highlights link between healthy heart and healthy brain
Published 4 August 2009
Middle aged people who smoke, have high blood pressure or diabetes are far more likely to develop dementia in later life, suggests research published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurology.
Alzheimer's Society comment:
'Dementia is one of people's biggest fears in later life but very few people realise that there are things they can do to reduce their risk of developing this devastating condition.
This study adds weight to the growing evidence that a healthy heart means a healthy brain. Evidence suggests that the best way to reduce your risk of developing dementia is to keep active, eat a balanced diet, don't smoke and to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly. Although this study did not find a link between obesity and dementia, other research has found that it is important to keep a healthy weight.
One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years. We must act now to find a cause, cure and better care for this devastating condition.'
Neil Hunt
Chief Executive
Alzheimer's Society
