Don’t want to give up booze? The OTHER things you can do to slash your risk of getting dementia (including flossing!)

It is a cruel disorder that is destroying the lives of millions of people around the world, slowly robbing them of their memories and independence.

But despite what you may fear, dementia is not an inevitability: as many as four in 10 cases of dementia are considered preventable.

In fact, scientists say that a few simple lifestyle changes may be able to reduce your risk of developing the disorder.

Experts from the University of Oxford concluded yesterday that drinking less alcohol, eating less sugar and avoiding traffic pollution are the most important controllable risk factors in reducing your chances of being affected by dementia.

But luckily, if you don’t feel like giving up booze or sweet treats, there may be other lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk…

Make sure you have a wide circle of friends

It is believed that having a large circle of friends and keeping up with social gatherings reduces your chances of dementia.

According to the charity Alzheimer’s Society, the opposite (social isolation) could increase the risk of dementia by 60 percent.

Participating in social activities such as volunteering, joining a class, playing music or doing crafts as a group are all thought to boost what experts call your brain’s cognitive reserve.

This is a term experts use to describe the organ’s ability to cope with conditions that damage it, relieve stress and improve mood, the charity explains.

The charity adds that listening to someone in a conversation, finding the right way to express yourself and remembering things that have happened are all ways to exercise your mental skills.

a 2019 Research also showed that social contact had a ‘protective effect’ against dementia.

Researchers measured the social contact of 10,000 participants aged 35 to 55 with non-cohabiting family members and friends six times over 17 years.

They found that people with frequent social contact had higher cognitive reserve, suggesting they are less likely to develop dementia.

Brush and floss your teeth

Brushing and flossing your pearly whites twice a day is a simple habit that can help reduce the risk of dementia.

Experts have discovered a link between the bacteria and subsequent inflammation caused by gum disease, with the build-up of amyloid proteins.

These proteins are linked to Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

A 2020 study in the US suggested that people with gum disease and oral infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Another 2021 study found that participants who lost more teeth were almost 1.3 times more likely to develop dementia, with the risk increasing the greater the number of teeth lost.

However, scientists have yet to find out whether the bacteria help cause the condition or whether gum disease and tooth loss are simply more common in people in the early stages of dementia.

Another possible factor is that people with poorer oral hygiene habits that lead to gum disease may also be unhealthier overall and may be at greater risk of developing dementia due to other factors.

Go for a run

By exercising regularly and avoiding becoming a couch potato, you can dramatically reduce your risk of developing dementia.

Vigorous aerobic activities, such as running, help keep your heart, lungs and circulation healthy. These are all good for brain health too.

Experts estimate that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by about 28 percent. For Alzheimer’s disease specifically, the risk is reduced by about 45 percent, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.

A 2013 study When we looked at the health behaviors of more than 2,000 Welsh men aged 45 and 59 and followed them for 35 years, it was found that regular exercise reduced their risk of dementia by 13 per cent.

Although these men also did not smoke, had a moderate alcohol intake and were a healthy weight, the level of exercise appeared to have the greatest effect on reducing the risk of dementia, according to the Cardiff University researchers.

The participants who checked all these lifestyle boxes reduced their risk of dementia by 60 percent.

However, if running isn’t your thing, a brisk walk and daily activities like cleaning, gardening and cooking also keep your body active and help reduce your risk of the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.