2023-08-28 14:00:00
More than 55 million people suffer from dementia worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (source 1). But what causes it? A study published in the British Medical Journal Mental Health in August 2023 provides additional answers. British researchers have indeed established a “ risk score ” with 11 major risk factors for suffering from dementia in the next 14 years.
To achieve this, the researchers relied on two British cohort studies made up of more than 223,000 people aged on average nearly 60 years. After 14 years follow-up, they were able to show that certain factors were more likely to cause dementia than others. Here are which ones:
“Avoidable” risk factors
Good news, some of these factors are “avoidable”, in particular by modifying its way of life, reassure the researchers (source 2). “Up to 40% of dementia cases can be prevented by targeting 12 key risk factors, including low education, smokinghypertension, obesity, diabetes and excessive consumption ofalcohol. »
Another factor, this time not modifiable, has been added to the risk score: the APOE gene. “A known risk factor for dementia”, it “is involved in the production of a protein that helps transport cholesterol and other types of fat in the bloodstream”, explain the researchers.
« yes theadvanced age (60 years and older) and APOE confer the highest risk, modifiable factors, such as diabetes, depression and high blood pressure, also play a key role. For example, the estimated risk for a person with all these factors will be regarding three times higher than that of a person of the same age with none of these factors”, explains Professor Sana Suri, co-lead author of the study.
Not a fatality
Rest assured, if you match several of these risk factors, it does not mean that you will have dementia. “It is important to remember that this risk score only tells us regarding our chances of developing dementia ; it does not represent not a final result “, emphasizes Professor Sana Suri. “The importance of each risk factor varies and since some of the factors included in the score can be changed or treated, there are things we can all do to help reduce our risk of dementia ».
Dementia, the main cause of which is Alzheimer’s disease, is the 7th leading cause of death in the world (source 1). In France, more than 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year (source 3).
The researchers admit that this study has Limits. The score might notably be improved by combining it with cognitive tests, and medical examinations such as a brain scan and blood tests. Also, the study was carried out only among Britons: the score should therefore be assessed “in more diverse groups of people, both in the United Kingdom and beyond”, concludes Dr. Raihaan Patel, lead author of the study.
1693292468
#risk #factors #dementia #study
