Less than half of eligible over-40s take free dementia health check

'Midlife is a crucial time to take action that will help maintain a healthy brain'

Health leaders urged over-40s to take the 20-minute assessment (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Less than half of over-40s have taken a free national health check which could reduce the risk of dementia, according to NHS England.

The 20-minute painless assessment, which screens for heart problems, kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes, has been taken by a minority of the 15 million eligible people over the past five years, it said.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease remained the leading cause of death in England and Wales in 2017, accounting for nearly 13 per cent of all registered deaths, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Someone who has had a stroke, or has diabetes or heart disease, is around twice as likely to develop vascular dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.

“The start of a new year is exactly the right time to commit to taking a simple, free and potentially life-saving step towards a healthier life,” said Alistair Burns, national clinical director for dementia at NHS England.

Everyone aged between 40 and 74 with no pre-existing health conditions is automatically eligible for the check, which happens every five years.

It is part of the NHS in England’s goal of improving early diagnosis of dementia.

Laura Phipps, head of communications at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “There is good evidence to suggest that what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain, but while 77% people believe they can reduce their risk of heart disease, only 34% of people know they can reduce their risk of dementia.

“Research shows that midlife is a crucial time to take action that will help maintain a healthy brain into later life. With dementia now the UK’s leading cause of death, we must encourage everyone to take positive steps to maintain good brain health throughout life and into older age.”

Jamie Waterall, who leads on the programme at Public Health England, said: “The NHS health check looks at the top causes of premature death and ill health but more importantly supports people to take action of reducing their risk of preventable conditions such as dementia and heart disease.”

The national target of ensuring at least two-thirds of people living with dementia are diagnosed and treated has been met for the past two years, NHS England said.

Information about the health check can be found on the NHS UK website.

PA