Large share of Alzheimer’s dementia linked to 8 modifiable risk factors

Eight risk factors are associated with 36.9% of Alzheimer’s and dementia cases

1. Midlife obesity
2. Midlife hypertension
3. Physical inactivity
4. Depression
5. Smoking
6. Low education
7. Diabetes
8. Hearing loss

Of those 8 factors, the most prominent are midlife obesity (17.7%), physical inactivity (11.8%), and low educational attainment (11.7%). In a similar study published more than 10 years ago, the highest risk factors were physical inactivity, depression and smoking.

This study gathered risk factor prevalence information from 378,615 participants in the 2018 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Citation

Nianogo RA, Rosenwohl-Mack A, Yaffe K, Carrasco A, Hoffmann CM, Barnes DE. Risk Factors Associated With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias by Sex and Race and Ethnicity in the US. JAMA Neurol. Published online May 09, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.0976