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Dementia Risk: New Factors Revealed
1 Dec
Summary
- High cholesterol after 40 is a newly identified dementia risk factor.
- Untreated vision loss is now recognized as a modifiable dementia risk factor.
- These factors, plus 12 others, account for nearly half of dementia cases.
Researchers have identified two new modifiable risk factors for dementia: high cholesterol after age 40 and untreated vision loss. These findings, published in The Lancet, add to 12 previously recognized factors, collectively accounting for nearly 49% of global dementia cases. This highlights the critical role of managing cardiovascular health and sensory well-being.
High LDL cholesterol can impair blood flow to the brain by hardening arteries, while vision loss may reduce engagement in brain-stimulating activities. Experts emphasize that what impacts heart health often impacts brain health, underscoring the link between metabolic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes with cognitive decline.
Proactive management with primary care physicians is essential, focusing on lifestyle changes like diet and exercise from midlife onwards. Even for those diagnosed with dementia, managing these risk factors can slow disease progression, as the brain remains malleable and responsive to healthy interventions.
