{"id":265735,"date":"2025-07-22T16:39:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T14:39:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/world-brain-day-never-too-early-or-too-late-to-reduce-dementia-risk\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T09:37:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T07:37:28","slug":"world-brain-day-never-too-early-or-too-late-to-reduce-dementia-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/world-brain-day-never-too-early-or-too-late-to-reduce-dementia-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"World Brain Day: Never too early or too late to reduce dementia risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Around 40% of cases of dementia are potentially preventable by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors at different stages during the life course.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking ahead of World Brain Day, observed on 22 July, Dr Patty Francis, president of the Neurological Association of South Africa (NASA), says dementia is no longer an inevitable consequence of old age, but \u201cthe result of decades-long exposure to modifiable risk factors\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These include things such as not completing secondary education, social isolation, and depression, as well as several medical conditions such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Diet might be an important factor in addition to these 14 factors<\/a>, has a key role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases that affect dementia risk, and is an important component of multidomain approaches to dementia risk reduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dementia starts with decades of unmanaged risk factors. Photo: Debabrata Hazra \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dementia does not happen overnight<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Francis says the brain is highly sensitive to long-term physical, emotional and environmental stressors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDementia doesn\u2019t happen overnight. It often starts with decades of unmanaged risk factors such as high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, poor sleep, alcohol abuse and hearing loss, all of which silently damage brain tissue. When addressing these, research shows dementia could be prevented or delayed in up to four in ten cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery stage of life offers an opportunity to protect your brain,\u201d said Francis. \u201cFrom maternal nutrition to childhood immunisation, and from midlife stress management to staying socially connected in older age. Prevention starts early and is lifelong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe most powerful message we can share this World Brain Day is that dementia is not just about ageing, it\u2019s about lifelong brain health. What we do in our 30s, 40s and 50s has a direct impact on our risk later in life.\u201d <\/p>Dr Patty Francis<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although addressing risk factors at an early stage of life is desirable, there is also benefit from tackling risk throughout life; it is never too early or too late to reduce dementia risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common warning signs of dementia <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The World Health Organization estimates that 57 million people<\/a> currently live with dementia globally. This number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 78 million by 2030 and 153 million by 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

60% of people with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries, but by 2050 this will rise to 71%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to bear a growing share of this burden, with numbers projected to nearly double every 20 years, increasing from 2.13 million people to 3.48 million by 2030<\/a> and 7.62 million by 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do not dismiss symptoms of dementia as “just getting older”. Photo: Steven HWG \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While dementia presents differently in each person, common warning signs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n