Dementia risk has spiked for people 55 and older, new study finds
Dementia cases in the United States are projected to double by 2060, with an estimated one million people being diagnosed annually, according to a recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University and other research institutions. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine on January 13, revealed that Americans over the age of 55 have a 42% risk of developing dementia, which is twice the risk identified in previous studies.
The research, which analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS) tracking nearly 16,000 adults since 1987, highlighted that aging is the primary risk factor for dementia. Other contributing factors include genetics, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and mental health disorders. Individuals with a variant of the APOE4 gene, associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and Black adults were found to have a higher risk of developing dementia.
Women face a 48% average risk of dementia, while men have a 35% risk, with the discrepancy attributed to women having a longer life expectancy than men. The study also revealed that for individuals reaching the age of 75, the lifetime risk of developing dementia exceeds 50%.
Dr. Josef Coresh, the senior investigator and epidemiologist leading the study, emphasized the importance of preventive measures to combat dementia. The study suggested that interventions used to prevent heart disease risk could also help prevent or slow down the onset of dementia.
The impending rise in dementia cases poses significant challenges for health policymakers, who must focus on strategies to minimize the severity of dementia cases and provide adequate healthcare services for affected individuals. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, and further insights from the researchers are awaited.
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