WHO releases new guidelines for reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia

People can reduce their risk of dementia by getting regular exercise, not smoking, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, controlling their weight, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, according to new guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“In the next 30 years, the number of people with dementia is expected to triple,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a press statement. “The scientific evidence gathered for these Guidelines confirm what we have suspected for some time, that what is good for our heart, is also good for our brain.”

Dementia is a rapidly growing public health problem affecting around 50 million people globally. Who says there are nearly 10 million new cases every year. Dementia is a major cause of disability and dependency among older people. Additionally, the disease inflicts a heavy economic burden on societies as a whole, with the costs of caring for people with dementia estimated to rise to $2 trillion annually by 2030.

WHO says the guidelines provide the knowledge base for healthcare providers to advise patients on what they can do to help prevent cognitive decline and dementia and are also useful for governments, policymakers and planning authorities when developing policy and programs that encourage healthy lifestyles.

The reduction of risk factors for dementia is one of several areas of action included in WHO’s Global action plan for the public health response to dementia. Other areas include:

·   strengthening information systems for dementia

·   diagnosis, treatment and care

·   supporting caregivers of people with dementia

·   research and innovation

An essential element of every national dementia plan is support for caregivers  of people with dementia, said Dr. Dévora Kestel, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO in a statement. “Dementia carers are very often family members who need to make considerable adjustments to their family and professional lives to care for their loved ones. This is why WHO created iSupport. iSupport is an online training program providing carers of people with dementia with advice on overall management of care, dealing with behaviour changes and how to look after their own health.”