Tag Archives: risk

Eliminating 12 modifiable risk factors could reduce dementia cases by 40%

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  • Excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury and pollution included in new findings
  • Sleep a possible risk factor but more research needed
  • Lower income countries at greater risk

A new report has estimated that the number of dementia cases worldwide could be reduced by 40% if 12 risk factors for the condition could be completely eliminated. The Lancet Commission Report has included excessive alcohol use, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and pollution as three new risk factors in its updated model for dementia risk. The report, supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, is published today (Thursday 31 July) at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2020.

Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said:
“This collaborative report from dementia experts across the world highlights a number of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia throughout a person’s life. Research is constantly uncovering more about dementia and this is the most comprehensive overview into dementia risk to date, building on previous work by this commission and moving our understanding forward.

“As new studies continue to develop the evidence base on dementia risk, the report has identified three new risk factors for dementia. More evidence on the complex topic of sleep is needed before we can make a judgement on its impact on dementia risk, but we hope this report will act as a catalyst for further research.

“With no treatments yet able to slow or stop the onset of dementia, taking action to reduce these risks is an important part of our strategy for tackling the condition. Prevention strategies must be underpinned by robust evidence and while our understanding of dementia risk is growing, there is still much we need to know about the different risk factors for dementia.

“This report underlines the importance of acting at a personal and policy level to reduce dementia risk. With Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dementia Attitudes Monitor showing just a third of people think it’s possible to reduce their risk of developing dementia, there’s clearly much to do here to increase people’s awareness of the steps they can take.

“While there’s no sure-fire way of preventing dementia, the best way to keep your brain healthy as you age is to stay physically and mentally active, eat a healthy balanced diet, not smoke, drink only within the recommended limits and keep weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check.”

An Aspirin a Day Keeps Big C Away? By Dr Patricia Thompson

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doesasprinlowercancerriskDaily aspirin and cancer has been in the news again. So what does it all mean?

People have been investigating whether aspirin protects us against cancer for many years. The first few study results were confusing – some showed a beneficial effect – others didn’t. This is the problem – you often don’t get a clear answer until many thousands of people have been studied. However, a group of medical researchers from Queen Mary University, London, have analysed the results of a large number of clinical trials, involving over a hundred thousand people in total, and the evidence is now clear.  Taking 75-325mg aspirin daily (between a quarter and just over a full tablet) for at least five years, can reduce risk of getting certain cancers (particularly bowel cancer), heart attacks and strokes.

Before you dash out to the nearest pharmacy – I should explain that a small percentage benefit was seen after studying a very large number of people. Whether you, as an individual, would gain, depends on many factors, including your age, sex, what other medical conditions you have, and how prone you are to the types of cancers which seemed to show the most effect. Aspirin does have some serious side-effects, including gastric bleeding and bleeding into the brain, and you should always discuss with your doctor before taking long-term regular aspirin.

What is interesting though is why aspirin works – and are there other ways we can reduce our chances of cancer, without taking a tablet every day?

We know that inflammation is important in the development of cancer, and at least part of the reason why aspirin protects, may be its ability to suppress inflammation.

Inflammation is the body’s protective response to damage, and to invasion by infections, such as bacteria. Normally it is a good thing as it involves our immune system destroying and removing infective organisms and dead cells and promoting repair of the damaged tissues.

Cancer cells appear in our bodies on a fairly regular basis. Normally they are discovered and destroyed by cells of our immune system and never cause us any harm.

However sometimes cancer cells manage to avoid discovery. Then they can turn our normal beneficial inflammatory response against us, to help them grow and spread. They do this in various ways, for example using aspects of the inflammation to grow new blood vessels, which provide the tumour with a source of food and oxygen.

So, although short bursts of inflammation can be protective, long term inflammation is certainly not. In fact some chronic inflammatory illnesses are known to predispose us to cancer, for example, inflammatory bowel disease can lead to bowel cancer.

Is there any way we can damp down inflammation naturally, without resorting to tablets? Absolutely yes – the best way is probably diet. See the Table for examples of simple changes you can make.

In addition to cancer, reducing inflammation can also protect us from heart disease and joint disease. Worth making an effort eh?

 

Examples of foods which promote inflammation and suggestions for avoiding them:

1. High sugar foods eg sweets and cakes – switch to fresh fruit (whole – not juice)
2. Trans fats (fried food, margarine, processed foods) – switch to olive oil, flax oil)
3. Many ‘Ready meals’ – switch to fresh vegetables, garlic, Herbs
4. Red meat – switch to fish, particularly oily fish
5. Refined carbohydrate (white flour, white rice) – switch to whole grain bread, brown rice

 

‘These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.’

 

 

 

Risk of heart disease reduced when saturated fats are replaced with unsaturated fats.

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The Fat Information Service reveals the facts behind the headlines…

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Fatty acids continue to be the subject of ongoing academic research and media attention. In this bulletin, brought to you by the experts behind The Fat Information Service (FIS), we discuss some recent findings regarding different types of fat and risk of heart disease.

Get to know your fats

Dietary fats are classified by their chemical composition, and can be either saturated (found in animal products such as meat, cheese and butter) or unsaturated (found in oils, seeds and spreads).

When choosing fats, we’re advised to choose unsaturated fats over saturated fats, as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle1.

Sorting fact from fiction

Recent coverage of the role of fats in the diet has made for confusing and alarming reading as well as being based on unreliable evidence. So what should we believe?

 

In response to a new review paper just published in Nutrition Bulletin2, Dr Carrie Ruxton from The Fat Information Service notes: “This latest release successfully challenges the recent media frenzy which followed publication of a BMJ paper on heart disease risk and polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in  margarine and spreads.

The evidence shows clearly that the risk of developing heart disease is reduced when saturated fats are replaced with unsaturated fats3. By highlighting this robust evidence base and outlining the inaccuracies surrounding interpretation of the BMJ study4consumers are urged not to shun the government’s dietary guidelines on the basis of spurious media reports.

The Nutrition Bulletin study confirms that advice for the general population should still be to choose foods with a lower saturated fat content and to opt for fats that are primarily unsaturated, supplying a range of omega 3 and 6 polyunsaturated fats. 

 

 

Fat Information Service tips

 

As with all aspects of a healthy diet, balance is key and dietary fats are no exception.

 

While polyunsaturated fats offer numerous health benefits, getting too much of any type of fat can be damaging to your health. Present guidelines suggest that no more than 35% of your overall daily energy intake should come from fat (with no more than 11% from saturated fat)5,6.

 

So while it’s not desirable to increase the total fat content of the diet, replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats will help you achieve a better balance for your heart and overall wellbeing (as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle).

These tips will help show you how:

ü  Switch to lower-fat dairy products e.g. low fat yogurts, and skimmed or semi-skimmed milks to reduce your intake of saturated fats. Eat less cheese.

ü  Swap butter for small amounts of spread or margarine as this can help reduce your saturated fat intake. Spreads are also fortified with other vitamins and can help supplement your diet with key nutrients. Additionally, spreads made from seed oils  contain essential fats, omega 3 & 6; these are fats that your body cannot make and must be taken in via your diet

ü  Choose lean cuts of meat, poultry or oily fish rather than fatty or processed meat products. Make sure you trim any excess fat and remove the skin from chicken or turkey before cooking.

ü  When you do roast or fry food, try using a lower saturated fat spread or oil product

New Study finds that Potassium decreases chance of a stroke

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Good news for those worried about strokes, According to a new study from the BMJ (British Medical Journal), people who have a high potassium intake have a 24 per cent reduced risk of a stroke. The study highlighted the positive health benefits that increased potassium can have on an individual. Eating potassium rich foods such as bananas and nuts and seeds can reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension without having an adverse effect on the renal function in adults.

The recommended daily allowance of potassium currently stands at 3,500mg per day which can be gained from a balanced diet, although increasingly busy lives means that this is not always possible.

Nature’s Plus Potassium capsules are a simple and convenient way to reap the health benefits of potassium. Being yeast free and vegetarian means that they are suitable for everyone to take and with a concentration of 99mg per capsule, they are the perfect way to top up your potassium levels.