- Under-55s who smoke increase their risk five-fold, and diabetes will more than triple it, reports the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. The US study of more than 11,000 people is a stark warning to those leading unhealthy lifestyles in midlife.
Meanwhile, other work shows brain exercises can delay dementia onset. Doing crosswords, playing cards or similar "mind-stretching" activities may delay the start of memory decline in people who develop dementia, according to a study in Neurology.
- In the UK alone, 700,000 people now live with dementia, and the figure is going up fast. Experts predict the number for the UK will rise to more than 1 million people by 2025 and 1.7 million by 2051.
- Current smokers were 70% more likely than those who had never smoked to develop dementia, people with high blood pressure were 60% more likely than those without high blood pressure, and people with diabetes were more than twice as likely than those without diabetes to develop it.
Neil Hunt of the Alzheimer's Society said: "Dementia is one of people's biggest fears in later life but very few people realise that there are things they can do to reduce their risk of developing this devastating condition."
- Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that looking after our hearts may be the most effective way to reduce dementia risk. We should all consider stopping smoking, taking regular exercise and adopting a healthy, Mediterranean-style diet."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14853794
- The children are still at home, the career is not quite where it should be and the mortgage is a long way from being paid off.
- A recent survey of 13,000 people in 12 different countries found that 27% of the Britons in this age group said they suffered from depression, compared with just 17% internationally.
This is compounded by a gloomy outlook on life in which 45% of British 45-54-year-olds say they feel negative about their financial situation, 30% feel negative about their career and 21% feel negative about life in general.
The survey also found that middle-aged Britons were more unhealthy than most other countries, with 35% saying they were obese and 24% admitting to smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day.
- "There is a lack of social support in the UK, a lack of encouragement, some might say, and a culture of individualism.''
"Brits probably have more individual fun but we don't have the same social bond and social care that comforts others.''
"We are more socially mobile and our envy is greater too. We see how wealthy the wealthy are, and it is depressing to fail to match up."
- "Being middle-aged means you are halfway through life. You may be looking at more years of life behind you than ahead of you and this influences how you feel," says Hodson.Talking to a psychotherapist or counsellor could help deal with feelings of depression "Happiness levels are lowest in people in their 40s - they are the people under pressure, wondering if they are going to fulfil their lifetime's ambition. By the time they reach their 50s and 60s, the stress is less and they tend to be more accepting about where they have got to."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13213755
- Middle aged people who are overweight but not obese, are 71% more likely to develop dementia than those with a normal weight, according to research.
- Alzheimer's Society head of research, Dr Susanne Sorensen, said: "This robust study adds to the large body of evidence which suggests that if you pile on the pounds in middle age, your chances of developing dementia later in life are also increased."By eating healthily and exercising regularly, you can lessen your risk of developing dementia."
Alzheimer's Research UK head of research, Dr Simon Ridley, said: "This study adds to existing evidence that excess weight in middle age could increase our risk of developing dementia.''
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11429993
- Of the 2,000 people quizzed, more aged 35 to 44 said that they felt lonely or depressed than in other age groups. The survey also suggested that busy parents were using Facebook and similar sites to stay in touch with children.
- Of those surveyed, 21% of men and women aged 35 to 44 said they felt lonely a lot of the time, and a similar percentage said that bad relationships, either at work or home, had left them feeling depressed. The same proportion said they felt closer to friends than family, and a quarter said they wished they had more time for their family.
- There are higher expectations on people of this age in terms of what they've achieved in their careers and family life.
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