Scientists say they have identified the key factors that put people at higher risk of developing dementia, and some could lie in our personality.
American researchers analyzed more than 20,000 adults over the age of 50 to estimate their probability of developing this memory-robbing disease.
Including unavoidable factors, such as the onset of aging in people’s genetic makeup, experts said there were 12 key variables that impacted risk.
Signs included having a stroke, having poor physical health, diabetes or a BMI over 35 (classified as obesity). Studies have long suggested that this is the case.
But economists at the California-based think tank RAND also identified three, all related to personality.
These included not being career-motivated (“never having worked or having only worked for a few years”), being less conscientious, and having little involvement in hobbies.
Other risks included drinking alcohol rarely or excessively, never exercising, scoring low on physical tests, having lower cognitive abilities, or having functional limitations (i.e., being restricted from fully performing daily activities).
However, they cautioned that their findings simply showed a link between the factors and dementia. They did not cause the condition.
American researchers analyzed more than 20,000 adults over the age of 50 to estimate their probability of suffering from the memory-robbing condition.
Being unable to learn new tasks and having difficulty concentrating on a single task can be a sign of dementia, the memory-robbing disease that affects almost 1 million Britons and seven million Americans.
In the report, they said: “Older people who strive to maintain high cognitive function for longer may benefit from early lifestyle modifications, such as engaging in physical exercise, working additional years, engaging in hobbies and novel informative activities later retirement, and maintain good physical health.’
However, they added: “The estimated effects of psychosocial measures varied widely across the models tested and we did not see a clear pattern.”
‘For example, engaging in hobbies and novel information activities protects against the incidence of dementia in two years, but not in four years.
«It is estimated that having a conscientious personality protects against the incidence of dementia in four years, but not in two years.
“Therefore, these results are somewhat sensitive.”
But they hope that By raising awareness about risk factors, which change as we age, people can take steps to reduce their chances of contracting the disease.
It comes as a landmark study in July suggested that almost half of all Alzheimer’s cases could be prevented by addressing 14 lifestyle factors from childhood.
World-renowned experts discovered that two new risk factors – high cholesterol and vision loss – were, combined, behind nearly one in ten cases of dementia worldwide.
It is currently believed that around 900,000 Britons suffer from this memory-robbing disorder. But scientists at University College London estimate this figure will rise to 1.7 million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 percent increase from the previous forecast in 2017.
They add to 12 existing factors, ranging from genetics to smoking, that experts have identified as factors that increase a person’s risk of developing dementia.
Without taking into account inevitable factors, such as the onset of aging, people’s genetic makeup, experts said, smoking and lack of exerciseexcessive alcohol consumption, social isolation and air pollution accounted for four out of ten cases of this condition.
Experts said the study, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, gave more hope than “ever before” that the memory-robbing disorder that blights the lives of millions of people can be tackled.
A recent analysis by the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that the total annual cost of dementia in the UK is £42 billion a year, with families hardest hit.
An aging population means these costs, which include lost income from unpaid carers, will soar to £90bn over the next 15 years.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting 982,000 people in the UK.
It is believed to be caused by a buildup of amyloid and tau in the brain, which build up and build up of plaques and tangles that make it difficult for the brain to function properly.
Over time, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and symptoms of dementia develop.
Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties, and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time.
Analysis by Alzheimer’s Research UK found that 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022, compared to 69,178 the previous year, making it the leading cause of death in the country.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of neurological disorders.
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behavior.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own way.
Dementia is a global concern, but is seen more frequently in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live to a very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are currently more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This number is expected to increase to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 percent of those diagnosed.
In the United States, there are an estimated 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, the risk of developing dementia also increases.
Diagnosis rates are improving, but it is believed that many people with dementia are still undiagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new medications can slow its progression and the earlier it is detected, the more effective the treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society