Our brains are dynamic, busy and demanding and use more than a fifth of our daily energy intake. Does the food you eat matter and can it affect your risk of dementia? Dementia is a rising global problem currently affecting 57 million people and projected to rise to 152 million by 2050. However, 40 per cent of cases could be prevented or delayed, according to a 2020 Lancet commission. Evidence is mounting that a healthy diet offers protection.
Dementia is not a single disease but a collection of symptoms resulting from damage to the brain. Changes in the brain may occur years, or even decades, before symptoms appear. The most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease, but there are other forms of dementia and it can also result from brain injuries or stroke. Symptoms include memory loss and problems with reasoning, communicating and the ability to carry out everyday tasks. It can affect feelings of hunger, thirst and the ability to swallow. According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, dementia is the most feared health condition for people over 55 – more than cancer or diabetes.