WHO: Around 45 percent of dementia risk can be prevented or delayed

Around 45 percent of dementia risk can be prevented or delayed by changing certain factors such as smoking, physical inactivity and air pollution, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated today.

Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.

Caused by brain diseases, dementia affects memory, thinking, and the ability to lead a normal life.

"Although there is no cure for dementia, up to 45% of the risk can be avoided by modifying risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution and diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes," the WHO stressed in the new recommendations.

More than 57 million people worldwide live with dementia, and around ten million new cases occur each year, according to the WHO.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60 to 70 percent of cases.

"Behind these figures are individuals, families and communities who face significant challenges that affect not only their health but also their dignity, independence and well-being," the statement said, adding that health professionals and policymakers can help prevent or delay the onset of dementia.

The United Nations (UN) health agency, which published its first recommendations on dementia in 2019, notes that scientific evidence has expanded significantly since then.

These recommendations aim to promote early detection and intervention to reduce the burden of dementia in the coming decades, the statement said, adding that although dementia is more common after the age of 65, the condition is not an inevitable consequence of aging.