The Express likes stories about dementia and seems to take any opportunity it can to put dementia on the front page - from running misleading headlines about a long-awaited 'cure' to running misleading headlines about preventative measures or causes. In recent times The Express has told readers there is a "simple way" to fight off dementia and that dementia can be prevented by simply dealing with stress...
And consider these recent, some might say conflicting, headlines. One week, Express readers are being told to eat more chocolate:
The next week they are being told they need to keep their weight down:
It would probably be funny, if any of us could be sure such headlines don't throw even the slightest glimmer of false hope in the direction of sufferers and their families. Meanwhile, the NHS news website does a good job of sanity checking the Express's more bizarre claims, from the cake that can cure dementia to very misleading claims about a 'miracle pill'.
The NHS responses include lines such as:
"The Express also listed some "natural ways to beat dementia", which include eating meat, fish and vegetables. This information is misleading, as none of these foods has been found to prevent dementia."
And:
"The Daily Express overstated the findings of this study. Stating that a "Cake cure for dementia" has been discovered is premature as this study examined the impact of a specific extract derived from cinnamon, not cake, in animal models of dementia rather than in humans."
As well as:
"A daily glass of beetroot juice could combat the onset of dementia among older adults," reported the Daily Express... This was a small study conducted over an extremely short time span. Its findings suggest that adults who eat a diet high in nitrates may experience an increased blood flow to certain areas of the brain... However, this does not mean that beetroot juice, or any other food high in nitrates, can help prevent dementia."
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