Dementia: Dr Sara on benefits of being in nature
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This raises questions about the efficacy of meat eating when it comes to the impact it has on our bodies.
Conducted using data from the UK Biobank project, this study followed half a million people with an average age of 57 over eight years.
During this time, there were 2,900 cases of dementia.
Led by the University of Leeds, the leader of the study, Huifeng Zhang added that it would increase the understanding about the impact of meat an individual’s probability of developing non-transmissible diseases such as dementia.
This doesn’t mean that that bacon sandwich many UK citizens may have eat of a morning is a one-way ticket to a condition that, globally, could affect 152 million people in 2050.
Neither does it mean the public should immediately avoid all outlets that include processed meat in their menus or henceforth go vegan.
Professor Janet Cade, who worked on the study, said this is just a “first step” and that the study wasn’t confirming anything.
More research needs to be carried out in order to establish a definitive link between eating meat and dementia.
It is also important to mention that of the 500,000 people in the UK Biobank, just under 3,000 developed dementia.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t take away from the reality that cases of dementia, an umbrella term of a number of degenerative neurological conditions, are on the rise.
The growing issue is that whilst cases are on the rise, there is as yet no cure.
If a person is diagnosed with dementia there are medications they can take to try and slow the development of symptoms, but it’s a constant losing battle.
Dementia doesn’t just affect the person with the condition, it affects those around them; relatives find themselves losing a loved-one twice.
The first occurs when the person with dementia can no longer remember who they are, and the second time when they pass away.
On the risk of developing Dementia, there are several risk factors that can increase your likelihood of developing the condition.
Alzheimer’s UK stated “around four in 10 cases of dementia may be prevented”.
Ways to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s cover mainly lifestyle choices.
This means eating healthily, not smoking, drinking less alcohol, keeping active and staying socially active.
In some studies, loneliness has been included as a risk factor for dementia.
If you have any concerns about dementia or any associated issues such as living with or how to help someone with dementia, there are a range of support groups and charities who are ready to help.
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