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ROUTINE NHS health MOT could map risk of dementia and other diseases, research has revealed. Millions of Brits are eligible for the free check-up every five years after the age of 40. 1 NHS health checks could be used to map risk of dementia and other diseases Credit: Alamy The half-hour GP or pharmacy check measures height, waist size, blood pressure and cholesterol and asks questions about exercise, drinking and smoking.

People are not eligible if they have a long-term condition like diabetes or heart disease, as they get regular check-ups anyway. Scientists from Oxford University found that information gathered from this MOT is enough to give people an estimate of their 10-year chance of developing a range of diseases, with an accuracy of at least 70 per cent. The current system focuses on heart conditions, with patients told to take statins if their chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke is estimated to be elevated.



The new study, published in BMJ Evidence-based Medicine, found that it was possible to assess the risk of a host of other diseases accurately. The accuracy of risk scores produced was 82 per cent for dementia, 79 per cent for heart attacks, 73 per cent for stroke and 77 per cent for chronic kidney disease and fatty liver disease. An accuracy rate of 86 per cent for alcoholic liver disease, 76 per cent for liver cirrhosis and 75 per cent for liver failure were achieved.

FIND DISEASES SOONER Researchers said the rollout of an MOT, which gives patients a nu.

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