The Guardian reports that a major epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease looms as the population matures and their waist lines expand. In the UK there are 700,000 people who suffer from dementia and most of those have Alzheimer’s disease. In 15 to 20 years it is expected that over 1 million will be affected in the UK alone. In 50 years the current number is expected to double to 1.5 million dementia patients.

The current thinking is that if you are overweight at 60 years-of-age you are twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s disease by the time you are 75 years-of-age. Simple daily exercise and adapting a moderately active lifestyle reduces the risk of dementia by 30% to 40%.

Diet is also important. A Mediterranean style diet can cut the chance of developing dementia up to 40%. Adding vitamin C cuts risk by 15%.