Scientists identify 11 key risk factors for dementia - full list
Scientists have identified 11 key predictors for dementia, paving the way for a tool that can "strongly predict" the likelihood of someone developing the condition within the next 14 years.
The list of risk factors, including lifestyle choices, personal characteristics and medical history, were found to assess whether middle-aged people would go on to develop dementia. This breakthrough was led by researchers at the University of Oxford who meticulously examined data from individuals aged between 50 to 73 participating in two major long-term British studies - the UK Biobank study and the Whitehall II study.
Some 220,762 participants with an average age of 60 from the UK Biobank study were scrutinized to develop this risk assessment tool. Additionally, 2,934 individuals with an average age of 57 from the Whitehall II study contributed to its validation.
Initially, the researchers compiled a list of 28 known factors associated with dementia risk. This list was then refined to identify the strongest predictors, resulting in a final list of 11 factors, which were subsequently used to create the UK Biobank Dementia Risk Score (UKBDRS) tool.
The 11 factors are age, education, a history of diabetes, a history of depression, a history of stroke, parental history of dementia, levels of deprivation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, living alone and gender. Researchers also examined these risk factors alongside whether or not people carried a specific gene - APOE gene, which is a known risk factor for dementia. This risk tool was called the UKBDRS-APOE tool.
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During the study period, it was observed that 2% of the participants involved with the UK Biobank study developed dementia, in contrast to the 3% from the Whitehall II study. The UKBDRS-APOE emerged as the top performer in predictive scoring, closely trailed by the UKBDRS risk tool, according to the findings published in the esteemed journal BMJ Mental Health.
The authors said the assessment "significantly outperforms" other similar tools currently available. These tools not only identify those at risk but also shed light on preventative measures that can be taken while still feasible.
The researchers highlighted previous studies suggesting that up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented through lifestyle modifications such as quitting smoking, reducing high blood pressure, losing weight, and cutting back on alcohol.
They propose that this innovative tool could potentially serve as an initial screening instrument for dementia, categorising people into "risk groups". Individuals identified with a high probability of developing dementia, based on the risk score, could then be prioritised for further tests including cognitive assessments, brain scans, and blood tests.
In a breakthrough study, the UK Brain Health Risk Score (UKBDRS) has been proposed as an initial screening tool to categorize individuals into risk groups for dementia, according to lead author Dr Raihaan Patel from the University of Oxford. "The UKBDRS may best be used as an initial screening tool to stratify people into risk groups, and those identified as high risk could then benefit from the more time-intensive follow-up assessments described above for more detailed characterisation."
However, Dr Patel warned that there are several steps to be taken before this risk score can be implemented in clinical practice.
It comes as a separate study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that people over 60 living "unhealthy lifestyles" were more likely to require nursing home care later in life.
The study highlighted that being physically inactive, smoking, and having poor sleep between the ages of 60 and 64 seemed to be particularly influential factors. The researchers from the University of Sydney examined data on more than 127,000 Australian men and women aged 60 and over.
Compared to those who lived the healthiest lifestyles, unhealthy individuals over 60 were 43% more likely to be admitted to a nursing home. The authors concluded: "Modifying lifestyle, especially reducing sitting time, increasing physical activity and improving sleep, should be explored as new public health measures to reduce the future risk of nursing home admission."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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