Scientists have named 9 factors that increase the risk of developing dementia

Throughout the world, 47 million people suffer from dementia. Each year, doctors put another 9.9 million diagnoses, two-thirds of the patients are women. This is a complex syndrome, the causes of which are numerous and interrelated, and its symptoms, such as memory loss and cognitive degradation, vary in severity and pace of development.

The effectiveness of treatment also largely depends on the patient, but at present dementia remains a debilitating problem that gradually destroys a person's ability to live a normal life. However, a new survey of advanced research in the journal Lancet contains an unexpected revelation: it turns out that one third of all cases of dementia development can be avoided if the key risk factors that cause it are eliminated or mitigated in advance.

Risk factors

As reported by BBC News, and as shown at the International Conference of the Alzheimer's Association in London this week, these nine factors contribute to the development of dementia:

• Average hearing loss (9% risk);
• Incomplete secondary or higher education (8%);
• Smoking (5%);
• Depression at a young age, which was left untreated (4%);
• Physical inertness (3%);
• Social isolation (2%);
• High blood pressure (2%);
• Obesity (1%);
• Diabetes of the second type, which is often associated with obesity (1%).

Although the symptoms of dementia begin to appear at a more mature age, these aggravating factors, decades before, gradually weaken the connections of the brain and pave the way for the development of the syndrome.

Prevention of a third of cases of dementia

Together, these factors constitute 35 percent of the risk, which means that, paying attention to them, it will be possible to prevent 35% of all cases of dementia. At the same time, the funds needed to treat dementia around the world (currently $ 818 billion) can be significantly reduced.

In general, as in the case with a lot of other diseases and conditions, it seems that a healthy lifestyle is the solution to many health problems.

Uncontrolled risk

But do not forget about 65% of the risk, which at present man can not control. These are, above all, factors such as the accumulation of protein in the brain (the leading cause of Alzheimer's disease), genetic mutations that lead to brain damage, and so on.

What causes these factors

At first glance, this list contains some seemingly curious factors, first of all, it is hearing loss. Researchers argue that the lack of ability to hear changes the form of cognitive processing of information. This can also lead to increased social exclusion and depression, which contribute to the development of dementia.

Other factors are more obvious, especially the level of education. 24 international experts who participated in the preparation of this report explain that further education and higher education dramatically reduce the risk of developing dementia.

It is also likely that excessive alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets contribute to the development of dementia, although these factors were not included in the report.

Forecasts of experts

The experts who prepared the report urge us to take seriously the possibility of preventing dementia, since this syndrome does not necessarily have to be the inevitable consequence of reaching the retirement age.

Experts predict that by 2050 about 150 million people will face the disease. Although dementia is the biggest global health problem in the 21st century, researchers explain that by paying attention to these nine risk factors, such a future can be avoided.

The ability to delay dementia for at least a few years, even for a small percentage of people, is a huge achievement that would allow many retirees to enjoy a respectable age without suffering from problems due to abnormal brain functioning.