Prevention is the most powerful medicine in the fight against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a leading international researcher says. <\/p>\n
‘Prevention is very important, more than any drugs we have or plan to develop,’ said Serge Gauthier, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit at McGill University in Canada. <\/p>\n
Dr Gauthier, who is in Australia for a series of seminars to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week, said the majority of dementia cases in those aged over 85 were preventable. <\/p>\n
Small strokes were key contributors to dementia in this group, he said. <\/p>\n
Making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption could reduce the risk of strokes, Dr Gauthier said. <\/p>\n
‘This is where we can have an impact right now,’ he told AAP. <\/p>\n
‘If you can prevent small strokes, you probably delay dementia by 10 years.’ <\/p>\n
However, another component of dementia and Alzheimer’s is the build-up of naturally occurring ameloid proteins in the brain. <\/p>\n
Dr Gauthier said the role of ameloids is still unknown but it is thought the proteins may help protect against infection. <\/p>\n
But in larger quantities the proteins can become problematic. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read more: Source: Prevention is the most powerful medicine in the fight against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a leading international researcher says. ‘Prevention is very important, more than any drugs we have or plan to develop,’ said Serge Gauthier, director of the Alzheimer’s … Continue reading
\nDementia expert says prevention is best<\/a><\/p>\n
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