What people can do now to prevent dementia

+ overheated language isn't helping climate cause US Edition - Today's top story: Dementia risk factors identified in new global report are all preventable – addressing them could reduce dementia rates by 45% [View in browser]( US Edition | 12 August 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [What is the holy grail and its rich history?]( - [The evolutionary importance of play in animals]( - [African nations question reliance on Russian mercenaries]( Lead story Someone around the world develops dementia approximately every three seconds, shortening the life span of those who suffer from it and stealing quality of life from both them and their loved ones. Researchers estimate that 57 million people worldwide suffer with dementia currently, with a larger percentage of people from low- and middle-income countries afflicted. If current trends continue, 153 million people worldwide could be living with dementia by 2050. But an encouraging new report from the Lancet Commission on Dementia offers hope, [confirming previously known risk factors and identifying two new ones]( – vision loss and high levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol – that are contributing to these trends. General internist Eric B. Larson of the University of Washington School of Medicine and applied sociologist Laura Gitlin from Drexel University, two of the 27 authors of the international report, explain how addressing these 14 factors across the life span could potentially prevent about 45% of those dementia cases from occurring. Other factors include social isolation, air pollution, hearing loss and smoking. Yet reducing these risk factors will require major efforts from not only individual people, but also policymakers and communities, they write. “Reducing dementia risk can translate to more healthy years, years free of dementia and a shorter duration of ill health for people who develop dementia.” [ [One great story every day, texted directly to you](. ] Amanda Mascarelli Senior Health and Medicine Editor The risk factors include smoking, excessive alcohol use and high LDL cholesterol. Halfpoint Images/Moment via Getty Images [Dementia risk factors identified in new global report are all preventable – addressing them could reduce dementia rates by 45%]( Eric B. Larson, University of Washington; Laura Gitlin, Drexel University Worldwide, the number of people with dementia is set to dramatically rise in the next 25 years. But a new report shows it doesn’t have to happen. Environment + Energy - [If you want Americans to pay attention to climate change, just call it climate change]( Wändi Bruine de Bruin, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Gale Sinatra, University of Southern California Phrases like ‘climate crisis,’ ‘climate emergency’ or ‘climate justice’ might seem to escalate the urgency, but a large survey shows they don’t help and may actually hurt. - [Birth of a hurricane: What meteorologists look for as they hunt for early signs of a tropical cyclone forming]( Xingchao Chen, Penn State Forecasters are closely watching a storm headed for the Caribbean that’s likely to become Ernesto. New techniques are helping them spot potentially dangerous storms earlier than ever. Economy + Business - [A bipartisan data-privacy law could backfire on small businesses − 2 marketing professors explain why]( John Lynch, University of Colorado Boulder; Jean-Pierre Dubé, University of Chicago Privacy comes at a price. Education - [3 strategies to help college students pick the right major the first time around and avoid some big hassles]( Rachael Cody, University of Connecticut Changing majors can cost money and time. Doing career-related research early on can help college students avoid that fate. Ethics + Religion - [Why is an ultimate goal called a ‘Holy Grail?’]( Joanne M. Pierce, College of the Holy Cross Several threads, including pre-Christian mythology, veneration of relics in Christian tradition, and medieval literature, have combined over the centuries into the Holy Grail metaphor of today. Science + Technology - [Could dinosaurs still exist somewhere in the world? A paleontologist explains]( Hans Sues, Smithsonian Institution It’s fun to imagine secret dinosaur survivors living today, hidden in a remote corner of Earth. But the truth of who made it through the extinction event 66 million years ago may surprise you. - [At its core, life is all about play − just look at the animal kingdom]( David Toomey, UMass Amherst Reduced to its essence, the process of natural selection would look a lot like play. International - [Wagner Group setback in Mali challenges Moscow’s strategy in Africa and the region’s faith in Russian mercenaries]( Christopher Michael Faulkner, US Naval War College Dozens of Russian fighters were killed in confrontation with rebel groups in Mali amid speculation that Ukrainian intelligence played a role. - [UK riots: five essential reads on what triggered a week of violence]( Laura Hood, The Conversation The UK has experienced more than a week of violent rioting, during which white nationalists have marauded through towns and cities, fighting with police and calling for borders to be closed to keep out… - [Britain’s ‘broken’ water system: a history of death, denial and diarrhoea]( Lukas Engelmann, The University of Edinburgh; Jacob Steere-Williams, College of Charleston The water regulator has issued a record £168m fine to Thames, Yorkshire and Northumbrian Water for a ‘catalogue of failure’ regarding illegal sewage discharges – with more fines expected to follow. Trending on site - [Imane Khelif’s gold medal run shows how sex testing in women’s sports puts regulators in an impossible bind]( - [Bangladesh’s protests explained: What led to PM’s ouster and the challenges that lie ahead]( - [Trees don’t like to breathe wildfire smoke, either – and they’ll hold their breath to avoid it]( Author comments 💬 "NASA collaborates with numerous countries through the Artemis accords. Currently, 43 countries have signed on to the Artemis accords. There are ten articles to the accords to help reduce challenges and build cooperation: 1. Peaceful Purposes; 2. Transparency; 3. Interoperability; 4. Emergency Assistance; 5. Registration of Space Objects; 6. Release of Scientific Data; 7. Protecting Heritage; 8. Space Resources; 9. Deconfliction of Activities; 10. Orbital Debris and Spacecraft Disposal. And the US does collaborate with Russia in space exploration, even though they have yet to sign the Artemis Accords." – Author Jeffrey Gillis-Davis on the story [Chang'e 6 brought rocks from the far side of the Moon back to Earth − a planetary scientist explains what this sample could hold]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [Giving Today]( [New!] • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Threads]( • [Nostr]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to [help you make sense of our complex world](. 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