Dementia Risk May Be Twice as High as Previously Thought, Study Finds
The risk of developing dementia may be much higher than previously thought, a study published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine has found.
Older studies estimated that about 14% of men and 23% of women would develop dementia in their lifetimes. The new study puts that estimate higher, at around 42% for both men and women.
Why is dementia risk higher than before?
Prior studies suggested that about 14% of men and 23% of women would develop dementia in their lifetimes. The 42% risk these researchers found is much higher, which may be explained by several factors, experts said.
Previous studies, including the Framingham Heart Study and the Rotterdam Study, both published in the late 1990s, included a less diverse group of participants, all of whom lived in the same city. It’s an issue, experts say, that’s pervasive in dementia research.
Dr. Monica Parker, an associate professor of neurology at Emory University’s Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, sees patients as a primary care provider at Good Samaritan Health Clinic in Atlanta. Many of her patients are immigrants and do not speak English.
“Most of our academic health centers aren’t set up to see non-English-speaking people,” meaning this section of the population is often left out of the research, said Parker, who is also the chair of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s medical, scientific and memory-screening advisory board and has been a paid educational consultant for Eli Lilly, Biogen and Eisai, three companies that make Alzheimer’s drugs.
Other studies may have struggled to keep in touch with participants who developed dementia, said Dr. Ted Huey, director of the memory and aging program at Butler Hospital in Rhode Island.
The researchers in this study, however, “did a very good job of following people,” he said.
Finally, a lot of dementia data that exists singles out just one type: Alzheimer’s disease.
“Saying dementia is like saying cancer. You have a lot of subtypes,” said Michelle Mielke, a professor and the chair of epidemiology and prevention at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for as much as 80% of cases, according to CDC data. Research that only tracks Alzheimer’s, however, leaves out dementia caused by other conditions such as cardiovascular and neurological disease, Mielke said.
What are the implications of the study’s findings?
The study’s findings have significant implications for public health and healthcare systems. The researchers estimated that the number of people living with dementia will double by 2060, with Black Americans being particularly affected.
Black Americans had a 7% risk by age 75, nearly double the average. By 85, the risk jumped to 28%, and by 95 it was 42%. For women, the risk was 3% by 75, 21% by 85, and 48% by age 95.
The researchers also found that the average 55-year-old’s risk of dementia during their lifetime is 42%, but the risk was not the same at every age. The brunt of it occurred after a person’s 85th birthday. Between ages 55 and 75, the average person’s risk of developing dementia was 4%, according to the study. By the time someone turned 85, their risk was about 20%. Risk didn’t reach 42% until a person’s 95th birthday.
What can be done to lower dementia risk?
While certain factors that increase dementia risk, such as genetics or exposure to air pollution, may be out of a person’s control, the good news is there are plenty of ways to lower dementia risk.
Making sure hypertension and diabetes are controlled certainly will help with cognition, said Mielke. Getting quality sleep, which includes treating issues such as sleep apnea, can also lower dementia risk, as can eating a healthy diet. As a rule of thumb, what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain, and vice versa.
We know that the vascular risk factor modifications that help your heart also help your brain, said Dr. Josef Coresh, director of the Optimal Aging Institute at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Conclusion
The study’s findings have significant implications for public health and healthcare systems. The researchers’ estimate that the number of people living with dementia will double by 2060 highlights the need for increased attention and investment in dementia research and prevention.
FAQs
Q: What is the current estimate of dementia risk?
A: The current estimate is around 14% for men and 23% for women, according to older studies.
Q: What is the new estimate of dementia risk?
A: The new estimate is around 42% for both men and women.
Q: What are the factors that contribute to increased dementia risk?
A: The study suggests that the increase in dementia risk is largely due to people living longer than previous generations. Other factors such as genetics, exposure to air pollution, and certain medical conditions may also contribute to increased risk.
Q: How can I lower my risk of dementia?
A: Making sure to control hypertension and diabetes, getting quality sleep, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in regular physical activity can all help lower dementia risk. Additionally, reducing exposure to air pollution and getting regular check-ups can also help.
Q: What is the estimated number of people living with dementia?
A: The study estimates that the number of people living with dementia will double by 2060, with Black Americans being particularly affected.
