Obesity and smoking are key triggers for Alzheimer’s Disease, said health experts on Monday, stressing the need to control both, especially in young adults.Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which is a serious public health concern.
It leads to memory loss, cognitive decline, and inability to perform daily tasks.
The experts explained that obesity and smoking are the major risk factors for vascular dementia and can trigger Alzheimer’s owing to the inflammation caused due to smoking.
“Smoking damages blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain, which can harm brain cells. Obesity is linked to inflammation and insulin resistance, both detrimental to brain health,” Dr. Vikas Mittal, Pulmonologist at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, said.
Curbing the major risk factors are important as a recent study published in the journal The Lancet showed that global dementia cases are set to triple, with 153 million living with dementia by 2050.
Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 per cent of cases, is also expected to soar.