In the fight against dementia, prevention is the best care

Dementia is the loss of memory and identity, as novelist Julian Barnes describes in his final work of fiction. More than 57 million people live with dementia worldwide, and 10 million new cases are reported annually. Dementia prevention involves lifestyle changes such as not smoking, maintaining normal blood pressure, avoiding diabetes, regular exercise, a balanced diet, mental and social activity.

A new study suggests that people aged 45 to 65 who follow these guidelines may avoid dementia for an additional 13 years. However, there are no guarantees, only probabilities and possibilities. The discussion around dementia often focuses on care rather than cure, leading to care systems struggling to keep up. The UK's new Prime Minister has proposed a radical overhaul of social care, but further steps towards prevention and cure are needed.

In Abu Dhabi, clinical trials are underway to prevent Alzheimer's by using genetic data collected in the Emirati Genome Programme. Vaccination with a shingles vaccine could reduce dementia risk by up to a fifth. While the cost of the vaccine is relatively high, the potential savings in terms of later-life care far outweigh the initial outlay.

Preventive solutions should rise to the fore in the ongoing battle between prevention, care, and cure.