For a long time people have thought dementia, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s were inevitable, but as with so many diseases, lifestyle changes from a young age can counteract this, to reduce the risk and also to stabilise mental decline.
In 2021, 20.8% of the EU population was aged 65 years or older. In 2019, an Alzheimer Europe report on the prevalence of dementia estimated that there were about 9 million people living with the disease in Europe. This number is projected to double by 2050, rising towards 19 million in the European region. Globally, there are around 55 million people worldwide who are living with dementia. However, research is now showing that up to 45% of dementias could be prevented: by addressing a range of modifiable risk factors, at different stages of our lives.
To discuss this, my guests today are:
The 2024 World Alzheimer’s report noted that 80% of people think dementia is a normal part of ageing, including 65% of healthcare professionals. Clearly, with research proving the contrary there needs to be a mammoth shift in thinking in both the healthcare profession and for all of us in our daily lives and choices with ‘modifiable risk factors’.
Only 2% of the population are actually affected by rare genetic factors, and here ongoing multi-domain care can delay the progression of dementia.
Francesca Mangialasce is based at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and also works as executive director of the ‘FINGERS’ Brain Health Institute(FBHI), founded by Professor Mija Kivipelto, a world renowned researcher in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
FBHI is dedicated to promoting healthy brain aging and preventing cognitive impairment and dementia through innovative multi-domain clinical research and the fast translation of these results into personalised clinical practice. Brain is our main capital, and there is so much we can do to promote brain health. Studies have show that cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high blood sugar or diabetes are risk factors for dementia. Other emerging factors include hearing impairment, vision loss and impaired oral health.
Being mentally, physically and socially active during life is important to reduce the risk of memory problems in old age. Secondary and tertiary prevention, if one already has dementia, is also really important, even at the later stages of disease with therapies including art, dance and cognitive stimulation therapy which can give a quality of life despite dementia.
The FINGER study across 70 countries shows that a multi-domain approach can benefit cognition and it’s information we already know, perhaps, but don’t always consider in day to day life. Additionally, as we age, our circle of family and friends may diminish and so these aspects of life might suffer:
Hassan Fadli tells us the very personal story of his own father, as he got dementia towards the end of his life. Despite knowing the whole village in Normandy, his father faced stigma. This stigma deepens the pain of the suffering, knowing you are losing ‘yourself’. It is also a burden for the caregivers at a time when family and friends need the most help to support their loved one.
Hassan promised his father to work towards breaking this stigma and founded the 5 Ironmans initiative. Hassan has also made a documentary of his advocacy work alongside the endurance sport to reach people, from children in schools across Europe to the Queen of Sweden. His aim is to bring brain health into normal conversation, break the stigma, and integrate brain health awareness into public discourse.
Through the work of organisations such as Alzheimer’s Europe, and Hassan’s work, there is a multi-pronged approach to open up the conversation in society and with policy makers.
Ange Bradshaw is the Director for Research at Alzheimer Europe, a Luxembourg-based NGO and umbrella organisation that is working to change perceptions, policy and practice, to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. She explains that we all have a role to play to address the stigma of this disease, which is absolutely not a “normal part of ageing”.
Alzheimer Europe, together with its partners in national Alzheimer associations like the “Association Luxembourg Alzheimer”, is working to provide a balanced portrayal of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, challenging stereotypes and breaking taboos by speaking openly about these conditions. Highlighting the fantastic support and activities provided by national Alzheimer associations, such as art and dance therapy, and peer support groups, she nevertheless underlines the need for more investment at policy level – so people and their caregivers are able to live well with dementia, at all stages of the disease.
Joëlle Fritz is working as Research and Strategy Specialist at the Luxembourg Institute of Health where she aims to bridge research to clinical care. “Programme démence prevention” (pdp) is a programme raising awareness on modifiable risk factors for dementia prevention and promotes life style changes. This follows closely the FINGERs approach.
PDP is an integrated prevention concept funded by Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health and Social Security. PDP is currently coordinated by the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg in collaboration with national institutions (Luxembourg Institute of Health and Luxembourg Centre for System’s Biomedicine at the University of Luxembourg) and partner associations (listed below). It is important to start as early as possible in the prevention of dementia, and so the PDP Braincoach app was created, accessible via browser to everyone also outside Luxembourg.
Associations related in Luxembourg:
The results are clear, for dementia and living a long life with good health: we need to put in place good habits of physical, social and mental health.
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