New Delhi, July 16 -- Dementia, a medical condition of cognitive decline, is in the spotlight since the World Health Organization (WHO) released updated guidelines on reducing the risk. While there is no cure for dementia, but risk can be reduced by around 45% with change in lifestyle.

WHO in its new guidelines released on 15 July said, "Up to 45% of the risks can be attributed to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol use, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including high blood pressure and diabetes."

Caused by physical damage or changes to brain cells, dementia worsens over time and inhibits the ability of brain cells to communicate properly, resulting in decline in cogn...