New guidelines offer hope for reducing the number of dementia victims globally

More than 57 million people worldwide living with dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed each year. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for approximately 60 to 70 percent of all dementia cases.

Although there is no cure for this debilitating and incurable brain condition, WHO said Growing scientific evidence shows that many risk factors can be reduced through a healthier lifestylebetter management of chronic diseases and lower exposure to environmental hazards.

Knowledge is growing

“We know more now than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and this guidance translates that knowledge into action,” said WHO Director-General Tedros. “Countries now have clear, evidence-based recommendations that can be put into practice immediately to protect people’s cognitive health.”

The new guidelines update WHO’s 2019 recommendations and reflect the latest evidence on preventing cognitive decline across the lifespan.

The agency recommends:

• Regular physical activity
• stop tobacco use
• reduce alcohol consumption
• and eat healthy food

The report also highlights the importance of cognitive training, social engagement, and managing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

For the first time, WHO also recommends reducing exposure to air pollution as part of a dementia prevention strategy. Using hearing aids can also help lower the risk of dementia in some people.

However, WHO advises against taking vitamin B or E supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, or multivitamins solely to prevent dementia unless a deficiency has been diagnosed, citing insufficient evidence that such supplements provide benefits that outweigh the potential harm.

Increasing burden

In addition to memory loss and cognitive impairment, dementia can also undermine a person’s independence, dignity and security and place a heavy emotional and financial burden on the family and those who care for them.

WHO estimates dementia costs the global economy around $1.3 trillion annuallywith about half of the burden coming from unpaid care provided by family members and friends.

The agency said that integrating dementia prevention into non-communicable disease, mental health and brain health services can help reduce the global burden of these diseases and enable more people to live longer, healthier and more independent lives.