A medical expert, Professor Adesola Ogunniyi says that hypertension increases the risk of developing dementia and therefore maintaining blood pressure within the normal range would be advisable in old age as one of the ways of preventing dementia.
Professor Ogunniyi, who spoke at the virtual 23rd annual Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun lecture titled ‘Solving the Dementia Puzzle: Ibadan’s Contributions and the Challenges of Contemporary Relevance’, stated that the incidence of dementia is increasing in African unlike in high-income countries because preventive strategies are not been implemented.
Ogunniyi, the former principal investigator, Indianapolis-Ibadan Dementia Project, said that hypertension, one of the significant risk factors for dementia, is a persistent disorder marked by loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life that can be modified.
The expert listed risk factors for dementia includes less education, hearing loss, obesity, traumatic brain injury, alcohol use, smoking, physical inactivity, social isolation, diabetes and depression, declaring that 40 per cent of these are modifiable to ensure dementia is prevented.
He added, “the incidence of dementia had gone higher over an eight-year period of follow-up. The reasons for that we couldn’t explain. But we felt that maybe due to changing lifestyle, people living longer and longer duration of follow-up.
“Individuals can assess their level of risk, avoid hypertension and diabetes and other risk factors for dementia, do things that will stimulate brain activity. At least one can delay the process, that one’s parent has it does not mean that it is a genetic disease, it could also be environmental and lifestyle factors leading to it. Maybe about five to 10 per cent can be explained on a genetic basis.
“If you find an elderly person, who starts losing weight unexpectedly and there is also some evidence of cognitive impairment, please think about dementia setting in and seek medical help. It is important.
“Individuals who had no apolipoproteins (APOE)4 allele may be at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease as the level of cholesterol rose, so they should eat right so that they don’t accumulate fat unnecessarily.
“Dementia is not part of normal ageing, and has varied manifestations, but the stigma is a challenge. Social isolation is bad for older persons, therefore, engaging them in communal and religious/social activities is recommended as a way of boosting cognitive reserve and preventing dementia.
“Cognitive Stimulation Therapy appears to be a cost-effective method for managing mild to moderate cases of dementia in our setting.
The cognitive reserve can be boosted by using the brain to solve problems-crossword puzzles, cardboard games etc. Physical activity boosts cognitive function and it is recommended that it should be within one’s capability.”
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