Tiny Talk Series: E2 Dementia Prevention

Episode 2 in a series of tiny talks about dementia, mild cognitive impairment & memory challenges. In this podcast, I talk about the risk factors for developing dementia in later life. Please message me with requests or questions you may have, for future talks.

Transcript

Hello,

Eva here,

And welcome to my second tiny talk about dementia.

Today's topic is dementia prevention.

Regardless of if people know or care for someone who has dementia,

One of the number one questions on everyone's mind is how do I prevent that I develop dementia?

Sometimes this question comes in disguise.

Does use of aluminium bands lead to dementia or does excessive earwax cause dementia?

Mind you,

These questions reflect previous beliefs or rumours going around.

It is important to distinguish myths and rumours from facts.

And again,

You'll hear me say this often,

The words we use are important,

The language we use.

Nothing leads to dementia,

But some factors may increase your risk of developing dementia later in life.

There are no guarantees.

If you have one or more risk factors,

You may still never develop dementia.

And if you have none of the risk factors,

You still may,

Unfortunately.

Until recently only age,

Family history of dementia and Down syndrome were linked to increase risk of developing dementia.

Although this was valuable information,

It did not help in terms of prevention,

Because these variables are fixed,

As in not under our influence.

In 2017 the Lancet Commission report was published,

Which highlighted 9 modifiable risk factors that can lower your chances of developing dementia.

In 2020 the report was updated and 3 factors were added.

Together these factors may prevent or delay 40% of dementia cases.

Let me list the 12 dementia risk factors for you.

In early life or starting in early life,

Which means under 45 years of age,

Factor is less education.

This starts at school age,

But continues throughout life.

And in midlife,

45 to 65 years of age,

We are looking at hearing loss,

Traumatic brain injury,

Hypertension,

Excessive alcohol use,

Which means more than 21 units per week,

And obesity,

Defined as a BMI of over 30.

These are the 5 dementia risk factors that present in midlife.

The final 6 risk factors for dementia are all located in late life,

Over 65 and older.

Smoking,

Having depression,

Being socially isolated,

Being physically inactive,

Having diabetes and being exposed to air pollution.

The top 3 of strongest influence on developing dementia are 1.

Little education in early life,

2.

Hearing loss in midlife and 3.

Smoking in late life.

Reviews

This was great! Brought to my attention: the need to get hearing tested. Also work more on diabetes prevention since my numbers are borderline! Thank you!

This is very informative. I am 73 and though I do not have dementia, I do have some of the risk factors. Where can I find more of your talks about it?

Ouch. Devastated. Can’t reverse the past. I was a high school dropout 😭

Eva, thank you so much for this 🖤. I listened to this before calling my Nanny (grandma) on the phone. She is 90 years old, and is struggling very much with her memory since isolating herself over the past couple years of the pandemic. I feel slightly anxious before talking with her now, but I want to be there for her still. Hoping that I can start listening to and learning from your dementia talks 🖤. Thanks for everything.

Very interesting. You are right about not having these factors and developing dementia. My mother only had one of the risk factors and died of dementia. Low education. Thanks for the info!

Very informative. 🙏🏾