Up to 45% of the risk of dementia could be avoided or delayed by modifying certain factors such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and air pollution. the World Health Organization estimated on Wednesday, June 15.
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, it affects memory, thinking, and the ability to lead a normal life.
“ Although there is no cure for dementia, up to 45% of the risks are linked to modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution, and non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure and diabetes.", the WHO stressed in new recommendations published Wednesday.
More than 57 million people worldwide suffer from dementia and nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year, according to the WHO.
Read also Pollution does increase the risk of dementia
Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, affects 60 to 70% of patients.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and is estimated to account for 60 to 70% of cases.
"Behind these numbers are individuals, families and communities facing major challenges that affect not only their health but also their dignity, autonomy and well-being," notes Devora Kestel, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at WHO.
"This concerns us all," she writes in the foreword to the updated WHO recommendations, which explain how health professionals and policymakers can help prevent or delay the onset of dementia.
The United Nations health agency, which published its first recommendations on dementia in 2019, states that the scientific data has grown considerably since then.
These recommendations aim to promote early detection and management in order to reduce the burden of dementia over the coming decades, she explains.
Although it is more common after age 65, this condition is not an inevitable consequence of aging, insists the WHO.
Read also Alzheimer's, dementias: towards a blood test predictive of the risk of neurodegenerative diseases
Prevention is the most effective
“ We now know more than ever before about the risk factors for dementia, and these recommendations translate that knowledge into concrete actions." , commented WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“ Countries now have clear, scientifically based recommendations that they can implement immediately to protect the cognitive health of the population." he says.
In the absence of a cure for dementia, prevention remains the most effective strategy to reduce the number of cases.
The WHO specifically suggests mental stimulation and training for adults with mild cognitive impairment.
And she believes that better attention to conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol could also help reduce the risk of dementia.
Investing to reduce this risk would be profitable, notes the WHO, because this disease costs the global economy $1.3 trillion per year, about half of which corresponds to unpaid care provided by family and friends.
“ Understanding risk factors and taking steps to prevent dementia can improve health and quality of life, helping people live longer, healthier, and more independent lives., according to the recommendations.
English 
French