Report Identifies Seven Ways to Prevent Dementia

A new study from the ARC Center of Excellence in Population Aging Research (CEPAR) and Neuroscience Research Australia cites seven dementia prevention strategies relying on lifestyle modification, reports Medical Xpress . The report also determined the knowledge-base surrounding the cause of dementia in the senior community varied significantly, making in-depth dementia awareness workshops and community involvement increasingly critical. "While some detrimental attributing factors to dementia such as smoking and alcohol consumption were known, other factors connected to cognitive health were unknown to over 95 percent of the sample population," says University of New South Wales Professor Kaarin Anstey. "This highlights the need for increased local community engagement and advocacy." The researchers also observed direct, indirect, and intangible costs of dementia for the wider society and significant indirect costs to Australia's economy; for example, people with dementia and their caregivers often have to give up their jobs. In addition, CEPAR Director John Piggott says the report makes clear that persons with cognitive impairment were more susceptible to poor financial decision-making. "Our retirement income system is very complex and requires a lot of active decisions," he notes. "We are only beginning to think about how population aging will affect the decision-making ability of older cohorts and what insights psychology and behavioral finance can bring."