Comment: As we get older forgetfulness can generate anxiety about underlying cognitive decline. There has been an on going debate about whether lifestyle changes could impact upon cognitive decline. A recent Australian study adds to the debate and supports the view that lifestyle change is potentially useful in slowing cognitive decline.
Some experts argue that about 50 per cent of dementia is preventable through things like maximising education early in life, keeping your blood pressure down, not smoking, having a good diet, avoiding diabetes and obesity, reasonably intense exercise and maintaining a good social network. Well, a consortium of Australian universities and research centres have just published the results of a randomised trial into a cocktail of non-drug interventions to see if they help people whose thinking and memory are impaired or declining.
Click here to the link of an ABC news broadcast with Dr Norman Swan interviewing Professor Anstey.