Researchers have estimated the incidence of dementia, and its’ most common form Alzheimer’s disease, will double approximately every 20 years. The CDC estimates 4% of all adults over 65 years old and 13% of those 85 and older will be diagnosed with a form of dementia in their lifespans. Thankfully, consistent with other chronic diseases there are many modifiable disease risk factors that can reduce the risk of an individual developing dementia.
Authors estimate 45% of dementia cases are preventable by changing modifiable risk factors (The Lancet. 2024). These include sedentary behavior, social isolation, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption (>12 US units), traumatic brain injuries, hearing loss, and depression. Interestingly, many of the modifiable risk factors for dementia are areas we commonly educate patients on for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Risk factors that are largely easy to say and do, but hard to incorporate consistently in American’s lives. These risk factors can provide a brain care score (BCS) to give each individual a risk assessment for future dementia.
A recent study was published in the journal Neurology (2024) to determine the impact of modifiable risk factors on the development of depression, stroke, dementia, and age related brain disease. Authors utilized the 21 point Brain Care Score in a prospective, cohort study. They included over 300,000 participants (46% male, age 58 years) and to determine the impact of these risk factors on the development of the aforementioned diseases. Authors sought to control genetic risk to focus on the modifiable risk factors. Authors found a 5 point increase (improvement) on the brain care score was associated with a 30%, 35%, and 18% reduction in risk of stroke, depression, and dementia, respectively. They concluded a healthier lifestyle was protective for brain health regardless of genetic predisposition for disease.
Focusing on what is controllable including smoking, nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management, and positive relationships continues to have a significant impact on disease risk.
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