Dementia Risks - are you aware?

Recent public opinion research by Alzheimer's Research UK indicates that public knowledge of the risk factors associated with dementia remains low.

Just a third of people select dementia as a health condition they can reduce their risk of developing and almost half fail to identify any of the key risk factors that could increase a person’s risk of developing dementia.

The six risk factors are heavy drinking, genetics, smoking, high blood pressure, depression and diabetes.

Physical exercise is a protective factor against the disease.

The study, entitled Dementia Attitudes Monitor, found that more than half of UK adults now know someone with dementia.

But only half recognised that dementia is a cause of death, and they found that a fifth incorrectly believe it is an inevitable part of getting older.