Dementia Prevention
Dementia is recognised as a major public health challenge in the UK and worldwide requiring bold action.
World Health Organization warns that worldwide, around 55 million people have dementia, and this number is projected to increase to 139 million in 2050.
At present there is no cure for dementia, so, with no disease-modifying treatment currently available, effective dementia prevention strategies and interventions are urgently needed. Prevention Journeys is the only UK healthcare consultancy company helping clinics put in place effective clinical strategies and interventions for dementia prevention.
Facts on prevention
The landmark Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) has shown that it is possible to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people by using a multidomain lifestyle intervention of diet, exercise, cognitive training, and management of vascular risk factors.
According to the 2020 report of the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care, 40% of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed by targeting 12 modifiable risk factors across the life course, as follows: excessive alcohol consumption, head injury, air pollution, poor education, hypertension, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, infrequent social contact.
Further evidence on dementia risk factors, such as stress, low level of cognitive activity and sleep disturbance, is provided by a systematic review and meta-analysis of 243 observational prospective studies and 153 randomised controlled trials.
Moreover, Lourida I. et al. (2019) show that a favourable lifestyle has been associated with a lower dementia risk among participants with a high genetic risk.
Memory clinics and GP practices are ideally placed to introduce dementia prevention and improve their existing diagnostic and management services. Why not talk to us at Prevention Journeys, and together we can bring about change.
Call to action
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization adopted a Global Action Plan for 2017-2025 to improve the lives of people with dementia, where dementia prevention by risk reduction is an area for action.
National Health Service
NICE guidance on dementia prevention recommends to reduce dementia risk by promoting healthy lifestyles. Dementia prevention is also on the list of the NHS Long Term Plan launched in 2019. In 2022, the UK Government has announced a 10-year plan for dementia aiming to reduce the 40% of dementia cases that are preventable.
Prevention Journeys is the first organisation to help clinics implement a functional model to support the WHO and NHS plans.
Preventing dementia with lifestyle choices
In alignment with 2019 WHO guidelines, Prevention Journeys helps clinics offer their patients multidomain lifestyle interventions by addressing several dementia risk factors at the same time.
To find out more, please contact us.