The brain doesn't start to fail suddenly: what can protect against dementia

Neurologist Yuriy Flomin explains that dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging, and about 45% of its risks are preventable. He lists key factors: physical activity, blood pressure and cholesterol control, smoking cessation, social connections, and correction of hearing and vision. The myth about the benefits of red wine is separately debunked.

Neurologist and WHO Bureau expert in Ukraine Yuriy Flomin, in an article by the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, explains that dementia is not an inevitable companion of aging. About 45% of the risk of developing dementia is associated with modifiable factors that can be influenced long before symptoms appear. These factors include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, alcohol, and social isolation. Flomin emphasizes that crossword puzzles alone are not enough: half an hour of brisk walking or cycling is more beneficial for brain metabolism. The greatest benefit comes from learning new skills—a foreign language or a musical instrument. Prevention is recommended to start at age 40–45. The impact of hearing and vision is also examined: correcting hearing loss can reduce the risk of dementia by 7%, and vision correction by 2%. The myth about the benefits of red wine is debunked: alcohol does not protect the brain, and beneficial substances can be obtained from grapes and berries.