Scientists Discover Two New Dementia Risk Factors

Did you know that someone on this planet develops dementia every 3 seconds? In fact, in 2020, it was estimated that more than 55 million people were living with dementia across the globe. [1] It’s therefore no surprise that researchers are constantly attempting to identify new dementia risk factors that increase a person’s chances of developing this condition. Recently, two new dementia risk factors were added to the list. 

The Previously Known Dementia Risk Factors

The researchers of this study are part of the Lancet Commission and had previously identified 12 modifiable dementia risk factors. These modifiable risk factors are: 

• Physical inactivity
• Hearing impairment
• Smoking
• Depression
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Head injury
• Infrequent social contact
• Air pollution
• Less education
• Obesity
• Hypertension
• Diabetes

Read More: High Dementia Risk Associated With ‘Good Cholesterol,’ Research Says

The Discovery of Two New Dementia Risk Factors

A new study published in The Lancet Journal revealed two modifiable dementia risk factors: untreated vision loss and high cholesterol after the age of 40. Including the two newly discovered, these 14 modifiable risk factors account for almost 50% of all reported dementia cases worldwide. These two new factors were added after the researchers studied the meta-analyses of 14 vision loss papers and 27 high cholesterol papers. Many of these dementia risk factors are interrelated, so researchers feel these new factors make mechanistic sense. 

Vision Loss as a Dementia Risk Factor

While there are many causes of vision loss, it tends to be more prevalent in individuals who have existing metabolic risk factors such as poorly managed diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Vision plays a very significant role in our interaction with the world around us, in fact, it is our main sensory organ. When people cannot see properly, they tend to read less, do less brain-boosting activities, and spend less social time with others. This is detrimental as these are all activities that typically help prevent dementia from developing in the first place. 

High Cholesterol as a Dementia Risk Factor

The second dementia risk factor identified in the study was high cholesterol levels. High LDL cholesterol levels can result in hardened heart and brain blood vessels. [2] Additionally, uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure further affect these blood vessels. This makes it harder for the brain to get properly oygenated. Over time, this can result in significant neuron damage. This is a neurodegenerative process, with dementia being the end result of these neurons dying out. In folks over 60 years of age, there are certain areas of the brain that are particularly vulnerable to damage. These are typically vulnerable areas susceptible to blood vessel hardening. Analysis of people in clinical conditions noted that there was a correlation between people with high cholesterol and hardened vessels. 

Read More: What Is Frontotemporal Dementia?

Lowering Your Risk of Developing Dementia

The first step to lowering your dementia risk is having a good primary care doctor and specialist medical team. To help stay on top of potential health issues, it is important to have a primary care doctor who understands your particular medical history. They also need to be willing to share necessary information with specialists, such as neurologists and cardiologists. It is vital that your primary care doctor is actively working to aid you in controlling dementia risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Focusing on diet, medication, and exercise, the aim is to incorporate lifestyle changes while you are still healthy, not when you already have dementia. 

Dementia Prevention

A good primary care doctor will also advise that you take tests that are capable of detecting genetic markers and early signs of the disease. While dementia can be genetically inherited, up to 40% of dementia can potentially be prevented. [3] Research has shown that when comparing two groups of individuals with dementia, those who also suffer from metabolic issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes tend to experience faster dementia progression than the group without these conditions. No matter whether you are a young and healthy person, someone in their senior years, or even recently diagnosed, it is never too late to start making changes in your lifestyle.

The Bottom Line

Our brains are actually very adaptable and malleable. So, if you choose to make healthy lifestyle changes at any time, your brain will respond positively and become healthier. A few changes that you can incorporate today include being physically active, eating a healthy diet, keeping mentally active, and maintaining social connections. [4]  It is also important to get adequate sleep, manage your stress levels, and avoid alcohol and tobacco. If you already have symptoms, then it is vital to manage and control them effectively to prevent them from getting worse. Remember to have regular checkups so that a healthcare professional can monitor your cognitive health. 

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