Why Aren’t Doctor’s Telling Patients These Simple Ways to Reduce the Risk of Dementia?

CNN tackled this question in an article by Dr. Kellyann Niotis and Dr. Richard S. Isaacson.

The piece begins with the latest experimental Alzheimer’s drug, donanemab, which has produced promising results. However, we cannot count on medication alone, say the doctors. Looking at prevention is a must, but medical professionals are not emphasizing this important piece of the puzzle.

According to Neurology Today, prevention remains a dirty word within the field of neurology because some experts fear “overselling the idea” of prevention to patients.

This segment takes a look at a major study that found changing specific health targets, like exercise, socialization, and maintaining healthy blood pressure can reduce dementia cases by as much as 40% “Yet doctors, patients and insurers are not embracing – or even aware of – this potential.”

Another example that was cited is that hearing aids may prevent up to 8% of dementia cases (those with hearing loss are up to five times more likely to develop dementia – the use of hearing aids may cut that risk in half).

This article points out that up to 25% of the population carries one copy of the AP0E4 gene, which greatly increases the risk of Alzheimer’s. But many doctors discourage testing because they feel that nothing can be done to prevent the disease from progressing, so in their mind it is not worth knowing if you have an increased risk.

But truth is, according to the authors, there is much to be done about it and the work of prevention, largely through healthy lifestyle choices, should begin as early as possible – long before the symptoms appear (in some cases, as early as one’s 30s, although changing your habits at any age can be beneficial).

Hearing was just one of several modifiable risk factors for dementia called out in the article, as supported by research: Stay on top of your blood pressure and diabetes risk. Stop smoking. Work to maintain a healthy weight, stay active or start an exercise program -- walking is a great choice. Several other factors that are likely to have a positive impact include consuming a Mediterranean diet, optimizing sleep, reducing stress, combating elevated blood levels of homocysteine with B-vitamins, managing high cholesterol and supplementing with Omega 3 fatty acids.   

Each of these interventions works on the issue in different ways: “But based on our study design, it was most likely that each intervention moved the needle in completely different people.”


To read the full article and view the associated links, click here: Opinion: Dementia risk can lessen with preventative care. A new drug is not enough. | CNN

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