Sleep to defeat old age

THE vast majority of people are not doing enough to ward off dementia in later life.

A feared consequence of ageing the number of people expected to suffer from dementia is only set to rise.

Already an estimated 55 million people suffer from it, with more than 60% living in low and middle income countries.

As the proportion of older people increases in nearly every country, this figure is expected to rise to 78 million in 2030 and then 139 million by 2050, according to the WHO.

To remedy the problem Alzheimer’s Research UK has composed a new 12-step checklist to help avoid getting the condition.

The number one factor on the checklist is to get at least seven hours of sleep a night. This is the optimal amount of sleep for most adults, providing the most benefit for cognitive and mental health.

By Anthony Piovesan

Step two is to regularly challenge the brain - this could involve anything from frequently doing puzzles, or playing crosswords to learning a new language.

Third is to stay socially active, while the fourth step is to maintain mental well-being.

The fifth and sixth steps recommend people look after their hearing and eat a balanced diet. Staying physically active comes next, while quitting smoking also helps.

The ninth step is drinking responsibly, while number 10 is keeping a healthy level of cholesterol.

To achieve this, eat oats, barley and other whole grains, as well as beans, eggplant and okra, nuts, vegetable oils, apples, grapes, strawberries and citrus fruits.

The final two steps are maintaining healthy blood pressure and