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Dr Harry Pritchard, Alzheimer’s Society Run Club Dr Harry Pritchard, Alzheimer’s Society<\/p>\n
As we are entering a New Year, many of us will be looking to make healthier decisions for our body and lifestyles but according to one expert, we should be also prioritising our brain health.<\/p>\n
Dr Harry Pritchard is an Alzheimer\u2019s Society<\/a> Dementia Research Leader fellow, based at the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre at the University of Manchester.<\/p>\n As somebody at the forefront of understanding dementia<\/a> and how protecting your blood vessels can protect your brain, Dr Pritchard is keen to convey that while dementia is the UK\u2019s biggest killer, with one in three people born today expected to develop the condition in their lifetime, it is not actually an inevitable part of ageing.<\/p>\n HuffPost UK spoke with Dr Pritchard and he shared his five tips for keeping your mind sharp, body primed and overall health<\/a> able to keep conditions and concerns such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, mental health and more, at bay.<\/p>\n Scientist reveals top five tips to reduce dementia risk\u00a0Keep blood pressure under control<\/p>\n High blood pressure, diagnosed when readings consistently exceed 140\/90 mmHg, places excessive strain on the vessels in your brain, potentially causing lasting damage.<\/p>\n Pritchard says: \u201cResearch has shown that people with high blood pressure in midlife \u2013 from 40 to 64 years of age \u2013 were significantly more likely to develop dementia later in life, particularly vascular dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n \u201cThe NHS recommends having your blood pressure<\/a> checked at least every five years if you\u2019re over 40, even if you feel fine. If you have high blood pressure you can often get it down with changes to diet and being more physically active. Medications can also help too.\u201d<\/p>\n Maintain a healthy weight<\/p>\n Pritchard advises: \u201cStudies suggest that obesity between the ages of 35-65 can increase dementia risk in later life by about 30%. People with obesity are more likely to have high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes<\/a>, both of which are risk factors for dementia.<\/p>\n \u201cObesity can also lead to chronic inflammation in the body, which can have knock on effects on the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n Manage blood sugar levels for brain health<\/p>\n People living with diabetes have a higher risk of dementia, especially if they have had it for many years and it\u2019s not been managed effectively to keep blood sugar levels under control.<\/p>\n Dr Pritchard explains: \u201cDiabetes damages the blood vessels within the brain, making them leakier and reducing the amount of blood being delivered to brain cells. It also allows toxic substances to enter the brain and damage nerve cells.<\/p>\n \u201cEating a healthy, balanced diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type.\u201d<\/p>\n Quit smoking<\/p>\n The expert urges: \u201cSmoking damages the blood vessels in your body, including those in your brain. This means that brain cells don\u2019t get enough blood to work properly. Smoking<\/a> also damages a person\u2019s heart and lungs, which are both involved in keeping the brain well-supplied with oxygen.\u201d<\/p>\n However, he adds that stopping smoking is thought to reduce your risk to the level of non-smokers and the earlier someone quits and the longer they stay smoke-free, the better it is for their health.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s never too late to quit smoking.\u201d<\/p>\n Keep physically active \u2013 move for your mind!<\/p>\n