THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IS INCREASING

“There are currently around 850,000 people with dementia in the UK. This is projected to reach 1.6 million people in the UK living with dementia in 2040.”
“How many people have dementia and what is the cost of dementia care? The Alzheimer’s Society. Retrieved 23rd March 2023.

From NICE
What are the risk factors Risk factors | Background information | Dementia | CKS | NICE

AN OVERVIEW OF ALL THE STEPS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF DEMENTIA

A simple overview of how you can reduce your risk of dementia is provided by these websites:

From Dementia UK
How to reduce your risk of dementia or delay its impact Prevention and risk factors – Dementia UK

From the Alzheimer’s Association
This is an American website but is included because of its well-presented information
10 Ways to Love Your Brain 10 Ways to Love Your Brain | Alzheimer’s Association

From the NHS
Can dementia be prevented? Can dementia be prevented – NHS

LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND ARE WELL SUPPORTED locally

Broad information on lifestyle changes is provided by the NHS
Can dementia be prevented? Can dementia be prevented – NHS

Self-care advice and also self-referral information to excellent local support to help with lifestyle changes in reducing your risk of dementia. This can all be accessed without needing to see a GP. These are included under:

• Healthy weight
• Healthy eating
• Exercise
• Smoking
• Alcohol and drugs
• Lifestyle changes

OTHER CHANGES WHICH CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The NHS suggests other possible risk factors
Can dementia be prevented? Can dementia be prevented – NHS
Including

• hearing loss
• untreated depression
• loneliness or social isolation
• sitting for most of the day

All of these risk factors can be tackled

Hearing loss

You can now get FREE hearing tests on most high streets often through large pharmacists, large optician chains or other private services, quickly without needing to have a referral from your GP. Following this the private provider can tell whether you need a hearing aid.

There is more information on some local self-referral routes for a hearing test and hearing aids under

• other common conditions see the local self-referral section.

You can get free NHS hearing aids though there are limitations on the range available on the NHS and the waiting times to have fitted can sometimes be longer than if you get a private hearing aid. More information on various hearing aids is available here from the NHS
Hearing aids Hearing aids – NHS

Untreated depression

There is great local support for mild anxiety and low mood under

• Mental wellbeing

and for depression under

• Anxiety and depression adults.

Loneliness or social isolation

We all can suffer from social isolation at some point in our lives. There is great local support to help you overcome social isolation (loneliness) see under

• Social wellbeing.

Sitting for most of the day

As we get older, we all can become more sedentary (do more sitting). There is supportive information and also links to local exercise opportunities found under

• Exercise

Particularly see under question “If you have a sedentary lifestyle (sitting a lot) why is regular movement helpful and how can you do that?” and also the sub-section “self-referral to local support”.

DIAGNOSING NEW RAISED BLOOD PRESSURE (NOT ON ANY TREATMENT)

From the NHS
What is blood pressure? What is blood pressure? – NHS

HOW CAN YOU CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE?

Many pharmacies can take your blood pressure, or perform cholesterol and blood sugar testing.
From the NHS: How your pharmacy can help – NHS

You may be entitled to an NHS Health Check see under

• NHS Health Check

Many patients are also now buying their own blood pressure machine as suggested by the British Heart foundation

• Blood Pressure Monitors Blood Pressure Monitors | BIHS Approved | British Heart Foundation
• How to choose a blood pressure monitor and measure your blood pressure at home Blood pressure monitors: All you need to know

CHECK WHAT YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS MEAN AND IF ANY ACTION IS REQUIRED

If you take your blood pressure at home or with your local pharmacy you can also check what your blood pressure reading means and get information what to do next

From the NHS
Check your blood pressure reading Check your blood pressure reading – NHS

If your Blood pressure is high your GP can manage this with you, so it is controlled, reducing your risk of dementia.

DIAGNOSING DIABETES

You can check if you have diabetes and what your cholesterol is with a blood test, as part of an

• NHS Health Check

If you wish to have a diabetes blood test separate to an NHS health check this can be done through your GP practice.

Even if you do not have any blood tests you can reduce your risk of diabetes, see under

• Reduce Your Risk Of Diabetes

DIAGNOSING HIGH CHOLESTEROL

You can check if you have diabetes and what your cholesterol is with a blood test, as part of an

• NHS Health Check

If you wish to have a cholesterol blood test separate to an NHS health check this can be done through your GP practice.

Even if you do not have any blood tests, you can improve your cholesterol, see question “How can cholesterol be lowered with a healthy diet?” in frequently asked questions under

• Healthy Eating

GOOD MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN HELP REDUCE RISK

There are a number of possible underlying medical conditions including

• Cardiovascular disease (Heart attacks and angina)
• Cerebrovascular disease (Stroke and transient ischaemic attacks)
• Hypertension (High blood pressure)
• Diabetes

From NICE
What are the risk factors Risk factors | Background information | Dementia | CKS | NICE

There is more information about treatment of these underlying risk factors if relevant to you under

• Heart And Blood Vessels includes blood pressure, heart attacks and angina
• Diabetes
• Brain And Nerves includes stroke and transient ischaemic attacks
• Healthy Eating see under frequently asked questions particularly on cholesterol lowering diet and on cholesterol lowering medication (statins)