Dementia

WHO Releases New Guidelines for the Reduction of Dementia Risk

Regular exercise, quitting smoking, drinking in moderation, reducing overweight, and eating a healthy diet can all help to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, according to new guidelines from the WHO.

The Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia guidelines are designed to facilitate the implementation of the Global Action Plan On The Public Health Response To Dementia 2017-2025, the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2020 and WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (Mhgap), the Global Action Plan For The Prevention And Control Of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013–2020, the Global Strategy And Action Plan On Ageing And Health 2016–2020, the Global Strategy To Reduce Harmful Use Of Alcohol, and the Global Strategy On Diet, Physical Activity And Health.

Among the recommendations:

  • Physical activity should be recommended for the reduction of risk of cognitive decline.
  • Tobacco cessation interventions should be offered, as they may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
  • Vitamins B and E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and multi-complex supplementation should not be recommended for the reduction of risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
  • Interventions for the reduction of hazardous alcohol consumption should be offered for the reduction of risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
  • Interventions for mid-life overweight and obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, should be offered for the reduction of risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

“[W]hile age is the strongest known risk factor for cognitive decline, dementia is not a natural or inevitable consequence of ageing,” they wrote.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

  1. World Health Organization. Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia. Published May 14, 2019. Accessed May 14, 2019. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/312180/9789241550543-eng.pdf?ua=1.
  2. Adopting a healthy lifestyle helps reduce the risk of dementia [press release]. May 14, 2019. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/14-05-2019-adopting-a-healthy-lifestyle-helps-reduce-the-risk-of-dementia.