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| Dementia levels 'are stabilising' | Dementia levels 'are stabilising' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The number of people living with dementia is levelling off in parts of western Europe, a report says. | The number of people living with dementia is levelling off in parts of western Europe, a report says. |
| The University of Cambridge study shows the proportion of elderly people with the condition in the UK has fallen, contrary to predictions that cases would soar. | The University of Cambridge study shows the proportion of elderly people with the condition in the UK has fallen, contrary to predictions that cases would soar. |
| Improvements in health and levels of education might be protecting people from the disease, the scientists said. | Improvements in health and levels of education might be protecting people from the disease, the scientists said. |
| Charities warned there was no guarantee the improvements would continue. | Charities warned there was no guarantee the improvements would continue. |
| The report, in the Lancet medical journal, analysed twinned dementia studies that were conducted in the same way, but decades apart. | The report, in the Lancet medical journal, analysed twinned dementia studies that were conducted in the same way, but decades apart. |
| Data from five studies from the Netherlands, UK, Spain and Sweden showed that the proportion of people with the condition had stabilised over the periods covered by the studies - which ranged from nearly 20 years to almost 30. But in the UK and among Spanish men, it had fallen. | Data from five studies from the Netherlands, UK, Spain and Sweden showed that the proportion of people with the condition had stabilised over the periods covered by the studies - which ranged from nearly 20 years to almost 30. But in the UK and among Spanish men, it had fallen. |
| In the UK, the data from 1991 suggested that 8% of over-65s would have dementia in 2011, yet the team in Cambridge said the figure was in fact 6%. | In the UK, the data from 1991 suggested that 8% of over-65s would have dementia in 2011, yet the team in Cambridge said the figure was in fact 6%. |
| It means there are around 670,000 over-65s with the condition rather than the 810,000 figure regularly cited. | |
| Improved health | Improved health |
| An ageing population should have led to more people living with dementia. However, lead researcher Prof Carol Brayne said the expected rise "had not occurred". | An ageing population should have led to more people living with dementia. However, lead researcher Prof Carol Brayne said the expected rise "had not occurred". |
| She told the BBC News website: "Effectively it has stabilised rather than gone up. | She told the BBC News website: "Effectively it has stabilised rather than gone up. |
| "The age-specific prevalence has gone down so even though the population has got older, the number [of patients with dementia] has stayed the same." | "The age-specific prevalence has gone down so even though the population has got older, the number [of patients with dementia] has stayed the same." |
| She said the findings suggested there may be a "preventable component within individuals, and across whole populations". | She said the findings suggested there may be a "preventable component within individuals, and across whole populations". |
| "It may be possible that we can defer dementia rather than prevent it entirely - it's very unlikely that we can prevent it entirely." | "It may be possible that we can defer dementia rather than prevent it entirely - it's very unlikely that we can prevent it entirely." |
| The exact reason why rates have fallen is uncertain, but improvements to the health of nations are the most likely. | The exact reason why rates have fallen is uncertain, but improvements to the health of nations are the most likely. |
| Risk factors for dementia include: | Risk factors for dementia include: |
| Some of the people in the earlier studies would have lived through world wars, the Spanish Civil War or the Dutch famine. | Some of the people in the earlier studies would have lived through world wars, the Spanish Civil War or the Dutch famine. |
| The report said heart health and levels of education had changed hugely since then. | The report said heart health and levels of education had changed hugely since then. |
| 'New picture' | 'New picture' |
| The Alzheimer's Society said its figure of 850,000 people with the condition was based on 60 studies. | The Alzheimer's Society said its figure of 850,000 people with the condition was based on 60 studies. |
| However, it said there was a "new and emerging" picture showing that dementia might not be increasing as rapidly as previously thought. | However, it said there was a "new and emerging" picture showing that dementia might not be increasing as rapidly as previously thought. |
| It said the condition was already a huge social and economic problem, with a quarter of hospital beds filled with dementia patients. | It said the condition was already a huge social and economic problem, with a quarter of hospital beds filled with dementia patients. |
| The charity's chief executive, Jeremy Hughes, said: "With no cure, few effective treatments and an economic impact exceeding that of cancer or heart disease, dementia remains the most critical health and social care challenge facing the UK." | The charity's chief executive, Jeremy Hughes, said: "With no cure, few effective treatments and an economic impact exceeding that of cancer or heart disease, dementia remains the most critical health and social care challenge facing the UK." |
| It still predicts there will be one million patients with the condition by 2025, but Prof Brayne said that when it came to future projections, "it's a guess, effectively", as it was uncertain whether people's health would continue to improve and reduce the likelihood of dementia. | It still predicts there will be one million patients with the condition by 2025, but Prof Brayne said that when it came to future projections, "it's a guess, effectively", as it was uncertain whether people's health would continue to improve and reduce the likelihood of dementia. |
| Meanwhile, Dr Matthew Norton, from Alzheimer's Research UK, said the findings were encouraging, but the risk factors for dementia were "not yet fully understood". | Meanwhile, Dr Matthew Norton, from Alzheimer's Research UK, said the findings were encouraging, but the risk factors for dementia were "not yet fully understood". |
| He also warned: "Current trends in risk factors such as obesity and diabetes mean we should not be complacent. But measures to help people adopt healthy lifestyles now could have a real impact on the numbers of people living with dementia in the future." | He also warned: "Current trends in risk factors such as obesity and diabetes mean we should not be complacent. But measures to help people adopt healthy lifestyles now could have a real impact on the numbers of people living with dementia in the future." |
| Prof Brayne concluded: "Dementia is still common in the older age group. It still doubles every five years after 65. | Prof Brayne concluded: "Dementia is still common in the older age group. It still doubles every five years after 65. |
| "What we're hoping from this research is that it will provide more evidence for focusing research beyond drug discovery." | "What we're hoping from this research is that it will provide more evidence for focusing research beyond drug discovery." |
| Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please remember to leave your phone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please remember to leave your phone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Whatsapp: +44 7525 900971 | Whatsapp: +44 7525 900971 |
| Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
| Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 | Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 |
| Or comment here: | Or comment here: |