Healthy habits stave off dementia

Thursday April 1st, 2010

Middle-aged people who live a healthy lifestyle are helping reduce their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease, researchers say today.

Tackling obesity and high cholesterol levels seems to cut the risk of brain decay by about 20 per cent, according to Dr Tom Russ and Professor John Starr, of the University of Edinburgh.

Increasing exercise levels is also a key factor, they say.

The two specialists in health and ageing report their findings in the journal BMJ Clinical Evidence.

It is "everybody's business" to improve the health of middle-aged people, they say.

They write: "The most important areas to address are increasing levels of exercise across all age groups, and keeping obesity, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels under control in middle age."

Tags: Brain & Neurology | Diet & Food | Fitness | UK News

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