Dementia Risks: From Pollution to Caffeine
LONDON (Dispatches) Dementia strikes 47 million people worldwide. According to the latest research, eating a large amount of fatty foods and living in a polluted area may increase dementia risk, whereas taking regular exercise and keeping cholesterol at healthy levels may lower risk.
In a study by Dr Ruth Peters, a neuropsychologist from Imperial College London an infographic has been created that shows what factors do -- and don't --to reduce the risk of dementia
Among these findings are that eating a large amount of fatty foods and living in a polluted area may increase dementia risk, whereas taking regular exercise and keeping cholesterol at healthy levels may lower risk.
Dr Peters explained: "The evidence is increasingly suggesting that keeping a healthy blood circulation throughout the body is crucial for lowering dementia risk -- in other words, what is good for your heart is good for your brain."
A healthy heart, arteries and veins ensures the brain receives an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients, which keeps our neurons functioning properly.