Later Life

Midlife

Early Life

Less education

8%

Hearing loss

3%

Traumatic brain injury

2%

Hypertension

1%

1%

Alcohol (>21 units per week)

Obesity

Smoking

7%

%

Percentage reduction in dementia prevalence if this risk factors is eliminated

New Discovered Risk Factor

Risk factors

for dementia

Depression

4%

Social isolation

2%

Physical inactivity

2%

Air pollution

1%

Diabetes

40%

Potentially Modifiable

60%

Risk unknown

5%

4%

Simple lifestyle modification recommendations

Risk factors

Lifestyle Modification

Early Life

 

Less Education

  • Lifelong learning
  • Develop personal interests and hobbies
  • Often engage in cognitive games/activities

Midlife

 

 

Hearing loss

  • Avoid using headphones
  • Reduce environmental noise
  • Use hearing aids/device
  • Regular hearing tests

Traumatic brain injury

  • No violent blow/joit to the head
  • Fall prevention
  • Stay alert to road/traffic condition
  • No contact/strenuous sports, such as boxing, horse riding, etc.

 

 

Hypertension

  • Keep systolic pressure at or below 130 mmHg
  • Take cardiovascular prescription
  • Increase physical activity or regular exercising
  • Low sodium (salt) diet combined with "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" (DASH)

 

 

Obesity

 

  • Increase physical activity or regular exercising
  • "3 Low 1 High" diet: low sugar, low salt, low oil and high fibre
  • Cooking methods: primarily steaming, blanching, stir-frying in little oil, simmering in soup, and baking

Excessive alcohol consumption

  • Replacing alcoholic drinks with water or tea
  • Weekly alcoholic consumptions should keep under 21 alcohol units
  • Alcohol unit reference1:
  • 1 can (approx. 330 ml) of beer = 1.3 alcohol units
  • 1 small glass (approx. 125 ml) of red wine = 1.2 alcohol units
  • 1 bar glass (approx. 30 ml) of spirits = 1.2 alcohol units

Later life

Smoking

  • Quit smoking as soon as possible
  • Avoid exposure to second hand smoke

Depression

  • Consult family doctors or specialist as soon as possible

 

 

Social isolation

  • Encourage individuals who live alone to interact more with others
  • Returning to work after retirement: E.g. part-time jobs
  • Engagement in group/volunteer/family activities
  • Arrange regular home visits

Physical inactivity

  • Incorporate physical activities into daily routine (such as walking, climbing stairs, doing housework, etc.)
  • Exercise with friends to encourage each other

 

Air pollution

  • Avoid staying in areas with poor air quality
  • Limit indoor incense burning or candle lighting
  • Keep ventilated

 

 

 

Diabetes

  • Regular blood glucose monitoring
  • Fasting glucose level less than or equal to 5.6 mmol/L
  • Blood glucose level below 7.8 mmol/L at 2 hours after meals
  • Diabetes medication (including oral hypoglycemic medication and insulin injections)
  • Diabetes medication (including oral hypoglycemic medication and insulin injections)
  • Increase physical activity or regular exercising

Next: Brain Health Tips