WHO publishes new guidelines on the prevention of dementia



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The guidelines evaluate 12 risk factors and are designed to help governments and health care providers fight dementia.

Older man running

The new WHO guidelines indicate that physical activity should be recommended to adults with normal cognition and may be recommended for those with mild cognitive impairment.


According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are nearly 10 million new cases of dementia worldwide each year, this number expected to triple by 2050.

At the same time, Dementia Australia reports that there are currently 447,115 Australians living with dementia.

WHO has now published a new set of guidelines, Reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

"We must do everything in our power to reduce our risk of dementia," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, on the new guidelines.

"The scientific evidence gathered for these recommendations confirms what we have suspected for some time, that what is good for our heart is also good for our brain."

Although age is the most important risk factor known for cognitive decline, the WHO notes that dementia is not a "natural" or "inevitable" consequence of aging. There are a number of other non-modifiable risk factors for dementia, including gene polymorphism, gender, race / ethnicity, and family history.

WHO has evaluated 12 modifiable risk factors and provided advice on how to combat them. He then provided evidence-based recommendations on lifestyle behaviors and interventions to delay or prevent cognitive decline and dementia.

The guidelines include recommendations in a number of areas.

Physical activity

The WHO recommends that physical activity be recommended to adults with normal cognition and can be to those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

According to the guidelines, adults 65 years and older should do at least 150 minutes of aerobic physical activity of moderate intensity during the week, or at least 75 minutes of aerobic physical activity. vigorous intensity, in increments of at least 10 minutes.

Smoking

Interventions to assist smoking cessation should be offered to tobacco users as they may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, as well as other recognized health benefits.

These interventions may include behavioral or psychological strategies, as well as various pharmacological treatments.

Nutritional interventions

The WHO guidelines note:

  • the Mediterranean-type diet can be recommended for adults with normal cognition to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and / or dementia
  • a healthy and balanced diet should be recommended to all adults.

Supplementation with vitamins B and E, polyunsaturated fatty acids and multi-complexes was not recommended.

Alcohol

Interventions to reduce or stop the consumption of dangerous or harmful alcoholic beverages should be proposed, based on "ample evidence" that alcohol is a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline.

With respect to other risk factors, the guidelines indicate that the following may be suggested to help reduce cognitive decline and / or dementia:

  • Cognitive training for older adults with normal cognition and MCI
  • Weight management with interventions for overweight and / or obesity in mid-life
  • Management of dyslipidemia mid-life
  • Management of hypertension and diabetes in adults with these conditions

All risk factors assessed did not lead to recommendations.

Social participation

While the guidelines closely linked social participation with support for health and well-being, WHO has found insufficient evidence of its ability to reverse cognitive decline and / or dementia.

The same conclusions were drawn for depression and hearing loss. The WHO advises treating both individuals, but has found little evidence to recommend cognitive risk treatment.



guidelines on dementia risk factors for prevention of the WHO


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