The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has released a new set of guidelines on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Experts said middle-age individuals should be reminded that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption and that drinking must be avoided to prevent dementia later in life.
Entitled as Dementia, disability and frailty in later life - mid-life approaches to delay or prevent onset, the set of guidelines emphasized that while some of the conditions associated with aging such as inherited disorders cannot be modified, altering changeable factors and behaviors can decrease the risk of developing dementia, disability and frailty.
Among the highlighted modifiable factors that can help exacerbate the risk of developing dementia is drinking alcohol. The watchdog has called on the health service to clearly identify the hazards of alcohol consumption and to urge individuals to decrease the amount of alcohol they drink as much as possible.
In the guideline, studies pointing out to the contribution of smoking, decreased physical activity and being overweight were mentioned.
The report, which was made for people aged between 40 and 64 years old, also suggested that drinking alcohol has become a normal practice in the society, which should be challenged. As per present official guidance, men should not consume more than four units of alcohol per day and women can only have a maximum of three daily.
"Social norms can affect behavioral risks," the report read. Smoking has become less typical for people and that is an essential factor for change. The authors added that drinking alcohol on a daily basis inside homes brings up health hazards.
The report also said that people in their middle age, who change their exercise routines, smoking, drinking and dietary behaviors, can also help shape the decision of the young. "Children and young people are influenced by what they see," the report wrote.
Professor John Britton, guideline development group chairman, said that the new recommendations of NICE could result in more enhanced general health for older adults. He added that while lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking and excessive drinking are recognized to be detrimental to health, not many people realize that these can also elevate the risk of developing dementia and other conditions that can impair old age.
The guideline was published online in the NICE website.
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