Dementia Friendly Communities programme exceeds Prime Minister's expectations

David Cameron’s initial ambition was to have 20 communities working to be dementia friendly by 2015, however the Alzheimer’s Society announced the number of communities engaged with the programme has now exceeded the first goal by more than three times.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Living well with dementia is made easier by the consideration, respect and support of dementia-friendly communities – which is why I’m delighted so many are getting involved and showing their support.

“More research, improving the diagnosis rate and better care and support is vital, and our funding for dementia research will reach more than £66m by 2015. Just as important are the changes we need to make as a society to tackle stigma and increase understanding.”

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Five lifestyle changes

A recently published YouGov poll of more than 2,000 people by the Alzheimer’s Society has found that 22 per cent of people did not think it was possible to reduce their risk of dementia.

The charity said “five simple changes” to the average lifestyle could make a significant difference, with regular exercise highlighted as the most important factor despite growing evidence that the condition is linked to lifestyles.

Dr Clare Walton from Alzheimer's Society said: “Some 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia but with no cure yet, we need a significant public health effort to attempt to reduce the number of future cases of the condition.

“We know that what is good for your heart is good for your head and there are simple things you can start doing now to reduce your risk of developing dementia. Regular exercise is a good place to start as well as eating a Mediterranean diet and avoiding smoking.

'It is never too early to start making healthier choices that could help your memory - whether that's hitting the gym or just walking instead of catching the bus, it all helps.'

Alzheimer's Society is calling on people to take action now, and has revealed five simple things people can start doing straight away to reduce their risk of dementia. The charity recommends doing the following five simple things to reduce the risk of developing the condition:

• Exercise - there's more evidence that regular exercise will prevent dementia than any other measure. Walking regularly is an excellent way of keeping active.
• Eat Mediterranean food - eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts, a little red wine and not much meat or dairy.
• Manage other health conditions – other conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure both increase the risk of developing dementia, so get these checked and follow medical advice to keep them under control.
• Avoid smoking - it significantly increases the risk of developing dementia, most likely because it damages blood vessels and reduces the amount of blood that reaches your brain.
• Use it or lose it – scientists believe that frequently challenging the brain with new things is the key, for example taking up a new hobby, learning a language or even walking an unfamiliar route.