Research has helped us identify risk factors for dementia, which can in turn help us find ways to prevent the condition. 

Professor Paresh Malhotra, NIHR specialty lead for dementia, explains these risk factors in the video below: 

The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA study) revealed that people who are overweight have an increased risk of developing dementia.

This study included people aged over 50 and followed them for an average of 11 years. Overall, those who were obese at the start of the study had a risk of dementia one-third higher than people of a healthy weight. 

The findings emphasise the need for public health initiatives to prevent and manage obesity. 

The ELSA study also found that loneliness can also increase the risk of developing dementia. 

This suggests that those who have supportive social relationships with relatives and carers may be protected from cognitive decline. The quality of their relationships seems to be more important than how often they meet up in person.

Overall, the study stresses the importance of supportive relationships and a healthy diet for people with dementia.

These studies have helped us understand some risk factors for dementia, but we need more volunteers to understand them better. Sign up to Join Dementia Research today if you want to take part. 

Tomorrow, read the next in our series about 10 reasons to be hopeful, focused on research that is helping people with dementia to live better lives.

Read the full series from the start.