The 6 lifestyle changes that can slash your risk of developing dementia by 18% revealed

SOME 900,000 Brits are living with dementia and it’s estimated that this number will rise to the millions by 2040.

We don’t have much control over some factors that determine our risk of developing the brain-robbing disease, such as our age or genes.

GettyExercising and having active leisure activities could lower the risk of developing dementia[/caption]

But new research suggests that six subtle lifestyle tweaks could slash your likelihood of getting dementia by 18 per cent.

The study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders said having a cardiometabolic disease (CMD) can increase the risk of early cognitive decline.

That includes conditions like heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

But making some key lifestyle changes could offset the risk CMD and dementia.

Researchers identified six lifestyle factors associated with improved brain health that “could significantly counteract the detrimental effects of CMD on early cognitive decline”:

Engaging in frequent physical activities

Being socially active

Having active leisure activities

Getting quality sleep

Not smoking

Not drinking

Researchers examined 2,537 participants aged 60 years and older who didn’t have dementia over a span of two years, and surveyed them on lifestyle factors and disease history.

Participants were assessed on their height, weight, and blood pressure, as well as their lifestyles and disease history.

Researchers also assessed their cognitive function, whether they suffered from CMD – including coronary heart disease, stroke, and hypertension – and whether they engaged in the above brain-healthy lifestyle factors.

Participants were then scored on how closely they stuck to these healthy habits and divided into three groups.

Those described as ‘inactive’ based on their lifestyle received scores lower than three.

‘Intermediate’ participant were given four points and ‘active’ people received a score of five or above.

Only 5 per cent of all participants had a score of six, meaning they stuck to all six healthy habits.

Meanwhile, 35 per cent scored between five and six.

The lower the score, the higher the risk of early cognitive decline, researchers found.

But just a one point increase in lifestyle scores was associated with a 18 percent reduced risk for early cognitive decline.

Compared to participants with a lifestyle score of zero to three, those with scores ranging from four to six had lower risk of cognitive decline – suggesting that clustering lifestyle factors together had a significant effect rather than a single factor.

The study’s lead authors, Haowei Li from the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics Diseases, and Shige Qi of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said: “A healthier lifestyle is associated with a significant reduced risk of early cognitive decline, but lifestyle changes can’t be piecemeal.

“The most beneficial protective effect is seen when clustering multiple lifestyle factors together, showing just how powerful exercise, socialising, sleeping, and healthy consumption habits are in combination.”

It comes after scientists developed a breakthrough blood test that could spot Alzheimer’s 15 years before symptoms strike – which could become available on the NHS in just three years.

Meanwhile, Dr Tom Matthew from mbewellness.com shared the ultimate disease busting toolkit to slash your risk of cancer, dementia and heart disease, which you can start implementing in your 20s.