British Bangladeshi at most risk of dementia

Half of dementia could be prevented

August 01, 2024
British Bangladeshi at most risk of dementia
  • Bangladeshis have the worst health outcomes

Researchers have found two new risk factors that might be addressed to lessen the likelihood of having the illness.

Current statistics suggest that people with dementia from the UK Bangladeshis, along with other Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, are heavily stigmatised. The Bangladeshi community in the UK is most at risk of dementia. The Daily Dazzling Dawn is actively working to make the British Bangladeshi communia aware of are odementia.. There are approximately 4.8 million people with dementia in South Asia, including 3.8 million in India (0.3% of the total population) and 0.6 million in Bangladesh (0.3% of the total population).

The last three census data points highlighted that UK Bangladeshi communities have the worst health outcomes. This includes a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart diseases; both are risk factors for developing vascular dementia. However, little is known about Bangladeshi community members’ understandings of dementia, including cultural myths. Daily Dazzling Dawn focuses on the cultural myths, superstitions, and stigma surrounding dementia in an British Bangladeshi community from the direct experiences of people living with dementia, their carers, and the views of dementia service providers and stakeholders. 

Experts believe there is more optimism than "ever before" that roughly half of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed.

Researchers have found two additional risk factors: high cholesterol and eyesight loss, which can be addressed to lower the likelihood of getting the illness.


Researchers concluded that addressing these and 12 other factors in childhood and throughout life provides people the best chance of preventing or postponing dementia, even if they have a high genetic risk.


According to the third Lancet Commission on dementia prevention and intervention, excessive cholesterol and eyesight loss are linked.

If they are mostly sedentary, include some movement into their day, whether it is a walk or even seated activities.


She said, "Give yourself a chance."


"What you do will not only reduce your risk of developing dementia, but it will also improve the quality of your life right now, as well as the quantity of your life and healthy living.


"Because I think that what people dread is a long and unhealthy life, but it should increase the quantity of your healthy life."


The panel presents 13 suggestions to governments and individuals to lower the risk of dementia throughout life.

These include making hearing aids available for all those with hearing loss and reducing harmful noise exposure, and detecting and treating high cholesterol from about the age of 40.

Dementia is becoming more prevalent over the globe.


These are followed by lower levels of schooling in early childhood and social isolation in later life (5% each).


In the report, which Alzheimer's Research UK helped fund, the experts write: "The potential for prevention is high, and, overall, nearly half of dementias could theoretically be prevented by eliminating these 14 risk factors."


"These findings provide hope."


According to the Alzheimer's Society, there are an estimated 982,000 persons with dementia in the UK, with the figure anticipated to climb to 1.4 million by 2040.

"The findings also provide real optimism that we can lessen the number of people who suffer from this awful condition.

"Ensuring that people with dementia receive a timely diagnosis is a priority and NHS staff have worked hard to ensure the number of people with a dementia diagnosis has risen significantly over the last year, and is now at a record level, but we know there is more work to be done."

Separate research presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference demonstrated the long-term benefits of the Alzheimer's disease therapy lecanemab, implying that there are no additional safety risks connected with using the prescription for three years.

Lecanemab delays the disease's early stages and is currently being reviewed for clearance in the UK by medical regulators.