PREVENTION is the most powerful medicine in the fight against dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a leading international researcher. ''Prevention is very important, more than any drugs we have or plan to develop,'' said Serge Gauthier, director of the Alzheimer's disease research unit at McGill University in Canada, who is in Australia for Dementia Awareness Week. He said the majority of dementia cases in those aged over 85 were preventable and small strokes were key contributors to dementia in this group, he said.
Losing weight, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption could cut the risk of strokes, Dr Gauthier said. ''This is where we can have an impact right now. If you can prevent small strokes, you probably delay dementia by 10 years.''
About 280,000 Australians have dementia.