A new study finds that dementia risk may be determined more by lifestyle than by age.
According to recent Baycrest research, adults without dementia risk factors such as smoking, diabetes or hearing loss had brain health comparable to that of those 10 to 20 years younger than them. According to research, just one dementia risk factor can age a person’s cognitive function by up to three years. “Our results show that lifestyle factors may be more important than age in determining one’s level of cognitive function. That’s great news because there’s a lot you can do to modify these factors, including managing your diabetes, dealing with hearing loss, and getting the support you need to quit smoking,” says Dr. RRI) and the study’s lead author. The research is one of the first to look at lifestyle risk factors for dementia across the lifespan. “While most studies of this kind look at middle and older adulthood, we also included data from participants as young as 18 and found that risk factors had a negative impact on cognitive performance at all ages. This is vital as it means that risk factors can and should be treated as early as possible,” says Dr. Nicole Anderson, Senior Scientist at RRI, Associate Scientific Director of Baycrest’s Kimel Family Center for Brain Health and Wellness, and senior author of this. study. The study, recently published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Disease Monitoring, a journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, included data from 22,117 people aged 18 to 89 who completed the Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment, developed by Baycrest. Participants took the test at home by going to the Cogniciti website. The test takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and consists of a questionnaire and four cognitive tasks. The researchers looked at how eight modifiable risk factors for dementia—low education (less than a high school diploma), hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, alcohol or substance abuse, hypertension, smoking (currently or in the past four years), diabetes, and depression— affected participants’ performance on memory and attention tests. Each factor caused a three-year age-equivalent decline in cognitive function, with each additional factor having a similar effect. For example, having three risk factors could lead to a decline in cognitive function comparable to nine years of aging. As individuals aged, the consequences of risk variables and their prevalence also increased. “Overall, our research shows that you have the power to reduce your risk of cognitive decline and dementia,” says Dr. LaPlume. “Start addressing any risk factors you have now, whether you’re 18 or 90, and you’ll support your brain health to help yourself age fearlessly. Reference: “The Adverse Effect of Modifiable Dementia Risk Factors on Cognition Is Amplified During Adulthood” by Annalize A. LaPlume, Ph.D., Larissa McKetton, Ph.D., Brian Levine, Ph.D., Angela K. Troyer, Ph.D. and Nicole D. Anderson, Ph.D., July 13, 2022, Alzheimer & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring.DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12337 This study was funded by the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. With additional funding, the researchers could further examine the differences between normal seniors and “super-seniors” — people who have the same cognitive performance as those several decades younger than them.
