{"id":7588,"date":"2024-01-23T09:00:28","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T01:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiamd.com\/?p=7588"},"modified":"2025-08-20T12:08:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T12:08:55","slug":"question-of-the-age-is-dementia-preventable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/2024\/01\/23\/question-of-the-age-is-dementia-preventable\/","title":{"rendered":"Question of the Age: Is Dementia Preventable?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article was fact-checked by Professor <a href=\"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/make-an-appointment\/?dr=kua_ee_heok\">Kua Ee Heok<\/a>, senior consultant psychiatrist at Mind Care Clinic, Farrer Park Hospital, Singapore.<\/span><\/i><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/doctors\/kua-ee-heok\/\">About the Doctor<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dementiaasia.sg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dementia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a growing global concern, particularly in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25672767\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Singapore<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with 10% of the population aged 60+. An estimated one in four Singaporeans will be 65+ by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pmo.gov.sg\/Newsroom\/PM-Lee-Hsien-Loong-at-the-Singapore-Ageing-Issues-and-Challenges-Ahead-Book-Launch#:~:text=Our%20population%20is%20not%20just,in%204%20Singaporeans%20over%2065.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2030<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, projecting <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/multimedia\/graphics\/2022\/09\/dementia-neighbourhoods-singapore\/index.html?shell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">187,000 dementia cases by 2050<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/data\/gho\/data\/themes\/global-dementia-observatory-gdo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Globally<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, over 55 million people are affected, expected to triple to 152 million by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/07-12-2017-dementia-number-of-people-affected-to-triple-in-next-30-years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2050<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/AsiaMDWhatsAppEN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i>Follow us on WhatsApp for the latest updates: https:\/\/bit.ly\/AsiaMDWhatsAppEN\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>\u201cPrevention is the best medicine\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2012, Singapore&#8217;s <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dementiaasia.sg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mind Science Centre<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> initiated Asia&#8217;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26360390\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">first dementia prevention program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, showing the efficacy of health education, exercise, and cognitively stimulating activities (i.e. mindfulness, art therapy, horticultural therapy, choral singing). A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35922040\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5-year follow-up study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> revealed a remarkable 3% dementia risk, compared to the national rate of 10%. This research was presented at the 2023 World Congress of Psychiatry in Vienna, offering hope for a brighter future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6628594\/?report=reader\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2019 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> highlighted that a healthy lifestyle significantly reduces dementia risk, even for those with a strong genetic predisposition. Experts agree that taking care of your heart is looking out for your brain. Preventable risk factors of dementia:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/high-blood-pressure\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20373410\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypertension<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/high-cholesterol\/#:~:text=High%20cholesterol%20is%20when%20you,healthily%20and%20getting%20more%20exercise.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high cholesterol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/diabetes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and smoking, which impede brain blood flow, raising cognitive decline risk.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6957093\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive alcohol consumption<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> leading to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dementia.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/helpsheets\/Helpsheet-AboutDementia18-AlcoholRelatedDementiaAndWernickeKorsakoffSyndrome_english.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">thiamine deficiency<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and potential memory and thinking impairments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical inactivity, poor diet, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/obesity#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obesity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which result in nutrient deficiencies and sedentary lifestyles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social isolation and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/depression-and-older-adults\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">depression<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> contribute to dementia through reduced brain stimulation, mood\u00a0 changes, and elevated stress hormones.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>&#8220;Forewarned is forearmed&#8221;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practical tips to safeguard against dementia:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Stay physically active.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise boosts brain blood flow and neuron growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/18\/24\/13331\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aim for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity week<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ly<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Include aerobic exercise (i.e. walking, rowing, bicycling) for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3258000\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at least 20-30 minutes per session<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Stay mentally and socially active.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Embrace new learning opportunities and brain games, engage in social interactions, and consider <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moh.gov.sg\/ifeelyoungsg\/how-can-i-age-actively\/volunteer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">volunteering<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to expand social skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Maintain a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aadi.joslin.org\/en\/am-i-at-risk\/asian-bmi-calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthy weight<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a balanced diet<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consume <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/phytonutrients-paint-your-plate-with-the-colors-of-the-rainbow-2019042516501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">varied colourful diet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and avoid processed\/fast foods.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Prioritise medical health<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular check-ups monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthhub.sg\/programmes\/IQuit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quit smoking<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, practice <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/sleep\/about_sleep\/sleep_hygiene.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep hygiene<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, protect your head, and <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/nia.nih.gov\/health\/falls-and-fractures-older-adults-causes-and-prevention#steps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prevent falls<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Practice <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/healthy-lifestyle\/consumer-health\/in-depth\/mindfulness-exercises\/art-20046356#:~:text=Mindfulness%20is%20a%20type%20of,mind%20and%20help%20reduce%20stress.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mindfulness<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8508350\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mindfulness awareness practice<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> improves cognitive impairment and prevents dementia. Manage stress through meditation, tai chi, or yoga.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Connect with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30096932\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nature<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/nmsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/JAS-3-2018_Lee_Mahendran_Arts-in-Psychotherapy_Art-therapy-for-the-prevention-of-cognitive-decline.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">art<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engage in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahta.org\/about-horticultural-therapy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">horticultural<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-art-therapy-2795755\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">art<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musictherapy.org\/about\/musictherapy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">music therapy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> memory, cognitive flexibility, and emotional well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>&#8220;Don&#8217;t wait until it&#8217;s too late&#8221;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early detection is crucial. Seek medical evaluation if you notice:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alzheimers.org.uk\/about-dementia\/symptoms-and-diagnosis\/symptoms\/memory-loss#:~:text=People%20with%20dementia%20often%20experience,begin%20to%20affect%20everyday%20life.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memory loss<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: frequent forgetfulness, especially for recent events, names.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alzheimers.org.uk\/about-dementia\/symptoms-and-diagnosis\/symptoms\/communicating-and-dementia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Language difficulties<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: struggling to find words or follow a conversation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alzheimer.ca\/en\/help-support\/im-caring-person-living-dementia\/understanding-symptoms\/disorientation-losing-ones-way\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disorientation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Getting lost in familiar places or becoming confused about time, date.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/memory.ucsf.edu\/symptoms\/executive-functions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inability to plan and execute complex tasks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as managing bills and finances.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/poor-judgment-and-alzheimers-disease-98564\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor judgment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Making uncharacteristic decisions, inappropriate behaviour.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alzheimers.org.uk\/about-dementia\/symptoms-and-diagnosis\/how-dementia-progresses\/changes-in-behaviour-later-stages#content-start\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in mood or behaviour<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: sudden mood swings, irritability, agitation, paranoia, or social withdrawal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to protect your brain health and reduce the risk of dementia. Learn about the ground-breaking studies of dementia prevention program in Asia. Discover practical tips and lifestyle changes to maintain mental acuity as you age.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":7857,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[170],"tags":[206,243,304,376,1230,1234,1266,1383,1384,1385,1532,1829],"class_list":["post-7588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-medical-wellness","tag-aging-population","tag-asia-dementia-prevention-program","tag-brain-health","tag-cognitive-decline","tag-1230","tag-1234","tag-1266","tag-1383","tag-1384","tag-1385","tag-1532","tag-1829"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.0","language":"ko","enabled_languages":["en","zh","ko","ja","mn","vi","ta","th","ms","km","id","my","hi"],"languages":{"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":true},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":true},"ko":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ja":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"mn":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"vi":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ta":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"th":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ms":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"km":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"id":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"my":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"hi":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7588"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10262,"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7588\/revisions\/10262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}