The 12 simple steps to PREVENT 55million dementia cases by 2050

MORE than 55milion dementia cases worldwide by 2050 could be delayed or avoided, experts say.

Following 12 simple steps could reduce the number of cases, including 636,000 in Britain, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International.

Paola Barbarino, of ADI, said: “Even though new treatments are now on the horizon, they will not be instantly available or suitable in the majority of cases.

“As we now know a lot more about reducing the risk of developing dementia, this is one of the best ways to tackle the escalating numbers. 

“There’s clear evidence that demonstrates pre-and-post-diagnosis risk-reduction works.” 

More than 920,000 Brits are thought to be living with dementia, with the number expected to rise to more than a million by 2030.

ADI predicts there will be 1.5million cases in Britain by 2050 — but 41 per cent of these could be delayed or prevented entirely.

The charity said people can reduce their chances of the disease by avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol, physical activity and low levels of socialising.

Reducing you chances of conditions like diabetes, hearing loss, depression, obesity and high blood pressure can also help ward off the disease.

Finally, the Government must take steps to improve air quality and early-life education to help reduce the number of cases by 2050, the charity said.

Ms Barbarino said: “So often, those who have been diagnosed with dementia tell us they were unaware that there are modifiable risk factors for dementia and wish they knew how to reduce the risk much earlier in life. 

“Often, it isn’t until after diagnosis that they realise how practical dementia prevention can be both for preventing or delaying the onset, but also to potentially slow the progression of the condition.”

It comes as Alzheimer’s Research UK called on the Government to invest more in diagnosing dementia so it “does not remain a death sentence”.

A third of over-65s living with dementia in England never get a formal diagnosis, which could prevent them accessing groundbreaking treatments if they are approved by regulators.

The charity said lumbar punctures are an "effective tool" for diagnosing the disease but they are only offered to 2 per cent of people on the NHS. 

Samantha Benham-Hermetz, of ARUK, said: “For people living with dementia to receive proper treatment - including the new drugs currently being looked at by regulators - they need to receive a formal diagnosis.

"But in England, we know that more than a third of over-65s living with dementia never get a diagnosis at all. This is completely unacceptable, as is the underlying diagnosis target of 67 per cent.

"We wouldn't accept this for any other condition, so we shouldn't for dementia. In other UK nations, this information isn't even available, as data on dementia diagnosis rates aren't routinely published."

What are the 12 steps to reducing dementia cases?

Reducing these aspects can lower your risk of dementia: 

1. Smoking
2. Excessive alcohol
3. Physical inactivity
4. Low social contact
5. Head injuries
6. Diabetes
7. Hearing loss
8. Depression
9. Obesity
10. Hypertension
11. Air pollution
12. Poor early education