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Host Peter McCully chats with Jay Ingram, science broadcaster and author and long-time co-host of the Discovery ChannelÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s science show, Daily Planet.
Ingram has written seventeen books, three of which have won Canadian Science WritersÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ Awards and several have been on the bestseller list, including Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜The End of MemoryÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™, a book on aging and AlzheimerÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s disease.
As the spokesman for the Public Health Agency of Canada, Ingram is hoping to educate British Columbians and Canadians about dementia risk factors.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜I think the most reliable numbers are that from 2019 is that 62,000 people living with dementia in British Columbia. 12,000 of those had been diagnosed in the previous year, which sounds like a lot, right? ItÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s 20% of the total. But that shouldnÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t be surprising because every province in the country has an aging population, and the biggest risk factor, the one that you really canÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t do anything about is age,Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ says Ingram.
There is no cure for dementia and some risk factors are non-modifiable however, several studies suggest that applying healthy lifestyle behaviors and modifying certain risk factors can lower the risks of developing dementia, including delaying the onset of symptoms.
Ingram tells Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜Today in B.C.Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ host Peter McCully that Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜If weÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™re able to delay the onset by, letÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s say five years by addressing all of these risk factors, thatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s five years of a better life, a fuller life, letÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s say for patients living with dementia, thatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s five years. Less stress on caregivers, and thatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s five years less impact on the healthcare system. Delaying is a great goal. Preventing would be even better. Treatment would be probably even better than that. But letÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s take the opportunities we have right now.Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™
It is estimated that 12 risk factors could explain 40% of cases of dementia globally. Ingram talks about the these modifiable risk factors that include low education, hearing loss, depression and social isolation.
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