Rising rates of obesity will lead to dramatic increases in the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease, experts have predicted.

The biggest risk factor for all types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, is age. 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.

Better diet, more exercise and lower blood pressure would all help to reduce people’s risk of the condition.

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