These midlife health factors might delay dementia by 13 years
What's the story
A recent study has found three midlife health factors that could help delay dementia by nearly 13 years. The research, published in the medical journal Neurology, was conducted by scientists at NYU Langone Health. It examined data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and focused on three main risk factors: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and smoking.
Research findings
Study details
The ARIC study, which started in 1986, followed Americans into late life and measured midlife vascular risk factors and dementia.
The new analysis involved 12,409 people with an average age of 56 who were free of dementia.
They were assessed for the three risk factors and followed for about three decades.
During this time, those without these three risk factors lived nearly 13 years longer without developing dementia than those with all three.
Demographic disparities
Gender and race differences
The study also found that women lived longer without dementia than men, regardless of the number of risk factors they had.
It also showed that white people had more dementia-free years than black people.
These findings highlight the need for further research into how demographic factors like gender and race could affect midlife health and its impact on cognitive decline later in life.
Health implications
Need for lifestyle changes
Dr. Josef Coresh, the study's senior investigator, stressed the need for people to actively avoid these risk factors in midlife as a strategy to preserve brain health for over a decade.
He said, "Hopefully, these results will encourage people to stop smoking and watch their vascular health closely from age 45 on."
The study also noted that these three factors often emerge in midlife and have lasting effects on neurodegenerative pathology.
Expert opinion
Importance of heart and brain health
Dr. Jacqui Hanley, head of research funding at Alzheimer's Research UK, who was not involved in the study, said it highlights the importance of looking after both heart and brain health.
She stressed that everyone should take practical steps like staying physically active, not smoking, and managing conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes to reduce their risk of dementia later in life.