Obesity dramatically increases risk of Alzheimer's

In 50 years time, up to 2.5m people in the United Kingdom could have dementia unless steps are taken to stem the obesity epidemic, the Alzheimer's Society warned. Better diet, more exercise and lower blood pressure would all help to reduce people's risk of the condition. Around 700,000 people currently suffer from dementia in the UK. The biggest risk factor for all types of dementia, of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common, is age. But experts are also starting to realize that lifestyle factors also have a big impact on a person's risk. Obesity, smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol all increase the risk of dementia because they can lead to damage of the blood vessels in the brain, which in turn leads to the death of brain cells. According to the Alzheimer's Society: "People who are obese at 60 are twice as likely to develop dementia by the time they are 75. They added that research had shown that regular exercise and a healthy diet could substantially reduce the risk.

Bonnie - sobering number for the UK. I shutter to think what these numbers will be in the US!