A new report by the Lancet Commission identifies loss of vision and high “bad” cholesterol as new risk factors for dementia. According to the International Researcher’s Team at University College London, UK, about 9% of global dementia cases can be attributed to new risk factors. Specifically, 7% are due to high “bad” cholesterol starting at age 40, and 2% are due to untreated vision loss in later life.
The 2024 Lancet Commission report identifies several risk factors for dementia, including air pollution, lower levels of education, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, depression, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, traumatic brain injury, physical inactivity, hypertension, and social isolation. These factors, when managed, can help in the prevention and reduction of dementia cases globally.
The authors found that about 5 per cent of global Dementia cases are attributed to lower education levels in early life and social isolation in later life as other risk factors. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of Dementia.
The experts stated that the prevention of these risk factors early in childhood and the tracking of such factors as long as one lives can prevent or postpone mental ailment, including those with such a genetic tendency. Proper education of children and reduced air pollution also help prevent dementia, according to the 2024 Lancet Commission report.
The Authors said that Dementia cases are expected to increase almost triple by 2050, rising from 57 million in 2019 to 153 million. In India, about 3.4 crore older adults, aged 60 years and above, are living with mild cognitive impairment, affecting their daily lives and activities in some manner, an estimation published in February by the journal PLoS ONE. The authors called for governments and individuals to be ambitious about tackling risks across the course of life for dementia, arguing that the earlier it is addressed the better.
“We now have stronger evidence that longer exposure to risk has a greater effect and that risks act more strongly in vulnerable people. That’s why, we must redouble preventive efforts towards those who need them most, including those in low- and middle-income countries and socio-economically disadvantaged groups,” said lead author Gill Livingston from the University College London.
