Top doc recommends getting rid of everyday tool to reduce risk of Alzheimer's

Irish Daily Mirror

3 days ago

There is "such positivity" in Alzheimer's research at the moment, says top immunologist Luke O'Neill. A drug that slows down the disease was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and it is hoped that it will be available in Ireland soon.
However, the expert stresses that lifestyle changes can help lower a person's chance of developing the disease. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, which is the umbrella term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities that are serious enough to interfere with daily life.
It is primarily caused by the build-up of protein deposits in the brain that eventually kills brain cells. While the exact cause of Alzheimer's is unknown, scientists believe that for most people it is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors.
In July 2024, the Lancet Commission reported that 45 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented by fully addressing 14 lifestyle factors. Here are Luke O'Neill's and the Lancet's lifestyle recommendations on reducing the risk of Alzheimer's- and it includes ditching a tool most of us use daily.
Google Maps is a tool that many of us use daily, however, studies suggest that keeping our brains as active as we can can reduces the risk of Alzheimer's. This can be done by learning a new language, doing puzzles, taking part in quizzes and also by navigating new areas and figuring out directions ourselves.
A study published in The BMJ in December 2024 found that taxi drivers and ambulance drivers have the lowest rates of death due to Alzheimer's. Other drivers such as airline pilots or bus drivers - those that have predefined routes - did not have a lower risk of developing the disease.
This suggests that occupations requiring frequent navigational and spatial processing could offer some protection against Alzheimer's.
Social interaction is a great way to keep the mind active, and scientists have identified social isolation as a risk factor for not only Alzheimer's but hypertension and coronary heart disease.
Loneliness can be associated with decreased cognitive activity, which can accelerate cognitive decline and poor mood.
Professor O'Neill told the Irish Mirror: "A big one is loneliness, that is a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's and Dementia. We have to mind older people, many older people get isolated and with some encouragement we can hopefully diminish the loneliness epidemic that's there."
Studies strongly suggest a link between hearing loss and a higher risk of developing dementia. One found that with every 10-dB decrease in hearing ability, there is a 4 per cent to 24 per cent higher risk of developing dementia.
Professor O'Neill encourages everyone to be conscious of their hearing and get it checked if they believe it might be declining. He added: "With a hearing aid you can stave that off, so the big message that's been given in the last while is if you are having trouble hearing go and get a hearing aid because it's a risk of getting Alzheimer's.
"These are things we can all do at decreasing our own risk of getting it, and they are very optimistic on that front."
The newest Lancet Commission study on dementia reported that high LDL cholesterol is associated with a higher risk of dementia. LDL is commonly known as "bad cholesterol", it's a condition where there's excessive amount of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.
This is usually checked during a routine bloods appointment, often in a GP office. Luckily, much can be done to reduce LDL cholesterol including a balanced diet low in saturated and trans fats.
This is usually found in foods like red meat, full-fat dairy, fried foods and processed snacks.
Lifelong learning is associated with improved brain health, with higher levels of cognitive activity. This doesn't mean you have to enroll in a degree programme, but learning a new language or taking up a new skill, even casually, can improve brain health.
The Lancet Commission found that those who did not complete secondary school education were more at-risk of developing Alzheimer's.
Being active is important for a healthier life, and it has been cited as one of the 14 factors that could reduce the risk of dementia. Physical activity can benefit brain health by reducing chronic inflammation, improving blood flow and increasing the release of protein that is good for brain cells.
The World Health Organisation recommends that adults get between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity a week. This would include walking briskly, biking, swimming or dancing.
It also recommends that on top of this adults should partake in muscle strengthening activities two times a week.
Obesity is also a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. However, it's important to note that BMI is not definitive in diagnosing obesity- as some people can have a high percentage of muscle mass.
Calculating body fat percentage, or measuring waist-to-hip ratio can be used to determine a healthy body.
An analysis published in the National Library of Medicine with over five million people found that those with higher central obesity - measured by waist-to-hip ratio- was associated with a greater risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.