Prevention and Living Well With Dementia course for GPs

This session will review the lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of developing some types of dementia and describe ways in which lifestyles and environments can be modified to help people to reduce their risk of dementia or to live well with dementia.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Identify the lifestyle factors that may increase the risk of developing certain types of dementia and how lifestyle changes may delay the onset and severity of certain types of dementia
• Explain the challenges to healthy living that may be experienced by different socioeconomic and/or ethnic groups and be able to effectively communicate messages about healthy living
• Recognise the importance for individuals with dementia to maintain good physical and mental health through nutrition, exercise and a healthy life style that includes social engagement
• Discuss the role of the environment in enabling people to live well with dementia and how primary care environments, such as GP surgeries, can be adapted

At the moment, there is no cure for dementia. However, factors associated with lifestyle choices can help reduce risk of developing dementia, reduce the risk of decline or more rapid decline and assist with broader components of living well with dementia such as supporting maintenance of mobility, activities of daily-living and reducing risk of ill-health and depression.