Today marks the start of Dementia Awareness Week 2013, a national campaign to raise the profile of the many different forms of dementia, from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s disease.
More than 300,000 Aussies are estimated to be living with dementia – a figure which is set to almost triple by 2050. So how can we help lower our risk in the future?
Experts from Alzheimer’s Australia say we need to understand the connection between our physical health and our brain health. As we get older, it’s important that we take care of both our bodies and our brains.
It’s true what they say – a healthy body is a healthy mind. Image: Shutterstock.
Serious chronic illnesses like heart disease, stroke and diabetes, plus risk factors including depression, obesity and sleep are all associated with cognitive decline. If left unchecked, these conditions can increase our risk of developing a range of debilitating diseases including dementia.
So while there may not be a cure, we can help reduce our risk of dementia by maximising our brain health and managing our blood sugar, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and body weight.
Learn more about our work in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia.
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Dementia Awareness Week runs from 16 to 22 September. Head to Alzheimer’s Australia for more information.
Media: Andreas Kahl, Andreas.Kahl@csiro.au T: 08 8303 8888 M: 0407 751 330
