News & Events

Finnish Study Claims Healthy Midlife Diet Can Cut Dementia

New research claims that 40-year-olds who start a diet of full of vegetables, fruit and fish cuts their risk of developing dementia by 90%.

The University of Eastern Finland study found a higher intake of saturated fats from butter, cakes and fast food is linked to poorer cognitive functions and an increased chance of dementia.

However, those who follow a healthier diet between the ages of 40 and 50 can drasticay reduce their risk of developing dementia by their 60s.

The research was the first in the world to investigate the relationship between a healthy midlife diets and the risk of developing dementia later on.

Researchers assessed the link between diet and dementia using a healthy diet index based on the consumption of a variety of foods.

For further information please read the following news story on the Daily Express website Healthy diet in midlife slashes dementia by 90%.

According to Welsh official figures, there are currently just over 42,700 people living with dementia in Wales and much work has taken place nationally to identify the areas which need to be addressed in order to improve the lives of those with and affected by this condition.

This has led to the creation of the National Dementia Vision for Wales which provides a long-term vision to ensure our country can best meet the challenge of the increasing number of people living with dementia.

As an organisation we are now focussing on dementia and the mental health issues it raises across Wales with further information available in our Dementia section on this website.

If you have any questions about WaMH in PC's work with dementia in Wales please contact us via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.

WaMH in PC Survey 2014

We're asking GPs, Practice Nurses, LPMHSS workers in every surgery in Wales and anyone else interested in Primary Care Mental Health to spare a little time to complete our 2014 survey.

The WaMH in PC Survey 2014, which is the third of its kind, will go live on 24 February and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and can be completed online using the following link - WaMH in PC Online Survey 2014.

Alternatively, the survey is available in paper form on the following link which you should then return to the following address:

WaMH in PC Paper Survey 2014

Lesley Hills,
RCGP Wales,
Regus House,
Falcon Drive,
Cardiff Bay,
Cardiff CF10 4RU.

The main objectives of the survey are to:

  • Survey perceptions, awareness and satisfaction levels for the current state of mental health service provision among GPs, practice nurses and LPMHSS workers (particularly following the introduction of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure in October 2012)
  • Survey views on where change is needed
  • Gauge current levels of awareness of WaMH in PC and its activities
  • Review the results of this third survey against the results of the previous two surveys

The closing date for submission of online and paper copies of the questionnaire is Friday, 2 May 2014.

The results will be published on this website in July but if you would like to receive an advanced personal copy of the final report please send your email address details to lhills@rcgp.org.uk.

Thank you for your support.

IT Access to WaMH in PC Dementia in Primary Care Training Videos

If you're having trouble accessing and opening the videos included in our recently published dementia in primary care training please read the following advice.

The video elements of our Managing Dementia in Primary Care Training Package are hosted on our WaMH in PC YouTube Channel but some organisations - including NHS Wales - block access to the YouTube site.

So if you're unable to any of the videos on your work computer please contact  please contact NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS) on 08450 267 297 or at primarycare.servicedesk@wales.nhs.uk or your IT department.

You can also contact Lesley Hills at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516 if your IT department cannot access the material.

Our Managing Dementia in Primary Care Training Package has been designed - alongside the Alzheimer’s Society and many others - to support primary care teams in delivering the best quality care to patients with dementia and their carers.

The videos it contains have been designed to support primary care teams in delivering the best quality care to patients with dementia and their carers.

If you have any questions or problems with the training contact Lesley Hills at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or phone 029 2050 4516.