With the news that TV presenter Fiona Phillips has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, we find out more about the condition
Dementia affects 900,000 people in the UK and is the country’s biggest killer,” says Dr Tim Beanland, head of knowledge and learning at Alzheimer’s Society (alzheimers.org.uk). Alzheimer’s disease – the most common type of dementia – is responsible for about two in three cases. It’s mostly a disease of old age – one in six people over the age of 80 develop it. Just 5% of cases occur in those under 65, while a much smaller number of people are affected in their 30s and 40s, usually because of a gene passed down the generations.
TV presenter Fiona Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 62, and she has been open about the fact that many of her family members, including her parents, had Alzheimer’s disease. After initially putting her brain fog and anxiety down to menopause, she revealed her diagnosis to help combat the stigma surrounding the disease, and is taking part in a clinical drug trial (Miridesap) that scientists hope could revolutionise the treatment of the condition.
How Can I Protect Myself?
“While you can’t change your age or your genes, you can do a lot about your lifestyle,” explains Dr Beanland. “The golden rule is what’s good for your heart is also good for the brain.”
◆ Feed your brain: “The Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets are both linked to a reduced dementia risk,” he explains. They focus on an increased consumption of whole grains and fibre (fruit, vegetables and pulses) and oily fish (not battered or coated), and eating less red and processed meat. Avoid processed foods: According to one study, for every 10% increase in your daily intake of ultra-processed foods, people had a 25% higher risk of dementia.
Tip: If you live alone, get into the habit of batch cooking.
◆ Challenge the brain: “Our brains are like muscles and anything that ‘works’ the brain reduces our risk of dementia,” explains Dr Beanland. Do puzzles, jigsaws, play chess and read every day. And, if you do these things already, make them harder or do them faster, read different genres of books or play chess against a computer etc. “My new puzzle book, Mind Games (Penguin Random House, £16.99), is a useful resource for anyone keen to enhance mental
