An American study released near the end of last year has brought forward evidence that cases of dementia in the U.S. have been dropping since 2002. This drop of 3% translates to around 1.5 million fewer cases of dementia in the United States among people aged 65 or older. According to the “Key Points” of the study, “Increasing educational attainment and better control of cardiovascular risk factors may have contributed to the improvement, but the full set of social, behavioral, and medical factors contributing to the improvement is still uncertain.”

So what do these findings mean for Canada? Being a developed country and having a similar population to the nation the study was conducted in could lead some to believe Canada has been experiencing a similar phenomenon. But as Carmela Tartaglia from the University of Toronto says, it may not be so simple: “The total number of people with dementia is still rising. That’s a function of age, and more and more people are living longer. There’s no doubt that it will be a very expensive problem. The annual cost of caring for dementia patients in Canada today is about $10 billion, and we expect that will rise to more than $16 billion by 2031. So we really need a more targeted approach.”

There are a couple of ways you can help to reduce your risk of serious cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The first is keeping to a regular exercise regimen. Aerobic exercise has proven to be the most effective form of exercise for reducing risk. Examples of this type of exercise include jogging, biking, swimming, walking and hiking. Other forms of exercise such as weight training and stretching also have their benefits.

The second method to reduce your risk is to follow a dietary pattern recommended by epidemiological studies, such as the MIND diet researched in 2015. Many of these diet patterns are based on what is known as the “Mediterranean Diet,” that is characterized by a high consumption of vegetables and olive oil, and a moderate consumption of proteins. These styles of nutrition consumption are often associated with slower cognitive decline.

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For the full study results showing a reduced prevalence of dementia in the U.S., click here.

One year ago, a new and never before seen tax was introduced in Berkeley, California. The tax targets sugary soft drinks by adding an extra 10% to the pre-tax price, also measured as one extra penny for every fluid ounce. The average can of cola is 12 cents more expensive, while the price of a two litre bottle has increased by 68 cents. It is well known that high consumption of sugary drinks can lead to adverse health effects, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The desired effect of this tax is to reduce the amount of sugar the population is consuming, especially children and young adults.

A recent study has shown that this tax is making positive changes, as sales of sugary drinks in Berkeley have dropped by 10% since the tax’s inception, while sales in the region not effected by tax rose by just under 7%. Berkeley is a city known for its wealthy and educated population, so this may also be a factor in the consumption drop. Researchers cannot confirm a direct correlation, but over this past year the sale of bottled water has risen 15%.

Canada is also working on instituting a sugar tax of their own. A study released recently by the University of Waterloo estimates that a 20% tax on companies that make sugary drinks could save the lives of more than 13,000 people over the next 25 years. This would also amount to $11.5 billion in health care savings, and generate $43 billion in revenue for the government.

“We know Canadians – including our children – are consuming too much sugar and sugary drinks in particular are harming our health. These products are not essential groceries, providing little to no nutritional value, and a levy is one proven way to reduce consumption and support healthy living initiatives,” says Mary Lewis of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

To read more about the Berkeley tax, click here. For more about how this issue may affect Canadians, click here.

The Canadian Community Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada has revealed that Canadian consumption of tobacco is decreasing. Over the past year, the number of Canadians aged 12 or older who smoked either daily or occasionally has dropped by 0.4%, from 18.1% to 17.7%. This is encouraging progress, considering that in the year 2000-01 this percentage was much higher at 26%.

The negative effects of smoking have been widely advertised. Most people are aware of its links to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and many other health conditions. The World Health Organization predicts that there will be 8 million deaths related to smoking per year by 2030.

“These decreases in smoking prevalence are encouraging, but an enormous amount of work remains to be done,” said Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). The CCS is one of the main advocates for modifying cigarette packaging to become more plain and generic. The idea is to reduce brand identification and incentive to purchase tobacco products. A similar campaign in Australia has shown that this method can have a positive effect and reduce smoking .

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Canada’s attitude and approach towards medical research is making a slow-but-steady shift; from doctor centric, to patient centric. Previously, doctors and scientists conducted research without much public input, but patients and caregivers are starting to get an increasing amount of say in what is being investigated, and how.

(Image credit: Tim Fraser)

Canada is following the lead of organizations such as the James Lind Alliance in the United Kingdom, which uses community input to establish a list of top 10 research priorities for major medical conditions. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research launched its Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research in 2011. Its goal is to promote community involvement to ensure patients’ voices are being heard.

“What we’re trying to do is change the culture of medicine by putting patients in all our activities. Sometimes if you’re really trying to change the way you understand a disease or care for a group of patients, having them there is very grounding and makes you much more efficient,” says Dr. Adeera Levin, a principal investigator at the Can-SOLVE network, which seeks solutions and innovations to overcome chronic kidney disease.

This approach does come with some drawbacks. Some view patient involvement as an unnecessary extra step in research. Investigators who already have a lot on their plate may be overburdened by the extra work required to keep patients involved each step of the way buy cialis uk.

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A recent scientific study has predicted that life expectancy in many 1st world countries could break the 80-year barrier in just over a decade. In 2030, women born in South Korea could be expected to have an average lifespan of 90 years, with most developed countries not too far behind. Improvements in the economy, education, and universal healthcare are the major factors driving this increase in life-span.

Canadians born in 2030 will also live longer than the previous generation. The average age for males will increase to 84, while for women it will be 87. Meanwhile, life-expectancy in the U.S. will only improve slightly, due to the lack of socially supported healthcare and increasing obesity and other healthcare concerns.

While many may see this increase in life expectancy as a positive, it could have a negative impact on the healthcare system. Health and social care for people over the age of 80 will become more expensive as the demographic increases.

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