Dementia Every second in Germany is afraid of the disease

Dementia is the most dreaded disease after cancer. This is shown by the results of a representative survey by DAK-Gesundheit (German Employees' Health Insurance Fund), which was conducted from 19 October to 11 November 2015. Since 2010, the DAK has commissioned the Forsa Institute (Gesellschaft für Sozialforschung und statistische Analysen mbH) to survey men and women throughout Germany about their fears of illnesses. Of the approximately 3 500 study participants this year, half are afraid of dementia. The tendency is for more women (53 percent) to be more frightened than men (46 percent). Especially in old age, there is more concern about getting it.
While 45 percent of 14- to 29-year-olds are afraid of dementia, 55 percent of 60-year-olds and older people. "The fact that older people in particular are afraid is not surprising, since neurodegenerative diseases mainly occur in old age," says Professor Dr. med. Ute Nöthlings from the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Bonn. "We also assume that dementia will become increasingly important in the future. This is also shown by the figures in the latest Federal Health Report. "The Federal Ministry of Health is assuming that the number of those affected will increase from the current 1.6 million to 3 million in 2050. "Apparently, this prognosis worries many people," says Nöthlings.

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According to the survey, those worried about dementia are the most worried that the disease can affect anyone. As further reasons they said that the disease is so far incurable and they would then depend on the care of others. They are also worried that their cases will rise so rapidly Despite their fears, study participants are aware that a healthy diet and lifestyle can help prevent disease. The majority of respondents (over 70 percent) regularly exercise, pay attention to a health-promoting diet and drink only little alcohol. Over 60 percent do not smoke and seek spiritual challenges.

"What nutritional factors can influence memory and the development of dementia, we want to explore in the competence cluster Diet-Body-Brain (DietBB)," says Nöthlings. She is a cluster spokesperson and responsible for the coordination of the network. Some studies have already provided evidence, but the data is not yet robust. "In DietBB we want to contribute to improving the data and communicate the findings to the consumer."

The competence cluster Diet-Body-Brain (DietBB) is an interdisciplinary network with partners from the Bonn region. The network includes several institutes of the University of Bonn and the University Hospital, the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the German Nutrition Society. V. (DGE), the German Sport University Cologne and the LIFE & BRAIN GmbH. Through studies, scientists are exploring the network's connection between diet, lifestyle and neurodegenerative diseases. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the project coordinated by the University of Bonn for three years with more than five million euros. (Pm)

Sources: DAK press release of 26.11.2015, FORSA study "Fear of diseases", www.dak.de; Robert Koch Institute (ed.): Health in Germany. Health reporting by the federal government. Jointly supported by RKI and Destatis. RKI, Berlin (2015)