Australian dementia patient backs World Health Organisation recommendations on how to halve cases

Almost half a million Australians are living with dementia and the numbers keep rising. But a major new report suggests cases could be halved, revealing the everyday changes that could protect your brain.

Dementia is Australia’s leading cause of death. More than 450,000 live with the disease, a number expected to top 1 million.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Everyday changes to help reduce risk of dementia revealed

But the World Health Organisation (WHO) says 45 per cent of future cases could be prevented with everyday lifestyle changes.

These include exercising regularly, controlling blood pressure and diabetes, eating a healthy diet, staying socially connected and keeping the brain active.

The only Australian expert involved in developing the new guidelines says it offers real hope.

“All of us want to age well,” Kaarin Anstey of the University of NSW said. “All of us want to have a full and productive, you know, later life. And so keeping your brain healthy is enabling all of that,” they said.

Ann Pietsch was diagnosed with dementia years ago, aged just 59. She was forgetting things at work but says staying busy has really helped her manage.

“It’s just keeping active, keeping your brain active too, and challenging it, and not sort of sitting in a corner moping,” she said.

But it’s not all about lifestyle and personal choices. The WHO says governments must also take action by improving access to healthcare and cleaner environments.

“Sets the goal high,” Anstey said. “So even if we can reduce by 20, 30 per cent, we’ll have a huge impact.”

The guidelines don’t recommend vitamins or menopausal hormone therapy for dementia.