Worldwide, no less than 50 million people suffer of dementia according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Among the representative symptoms of these neurodegenerative diseases, we note loss of memory, difficulties in orientation or even balance problems. dementia is still incurable, researchers around the world are working for early diagnosis, discovering a treatment, but also defining the risk factors as best as possible.
Until now, the scientific literature has listed a series of risk factors that can increase the risk of dementia. These include smoking, physical inactivity, loneliness or even cardiovascular disorders. Researchers from the University of London College, England, looked at the evolution of risk factors for dementia. They noticed that the number of cases of dementia linked to cardiovascular health is increasing. Their results are published in the journal The Lancet Public Health.
Smoking-related dementia cases may be falling, researchers say
To arrive at these conclusions, the researchers analyzed data from 27 studies carried out around the world on people suffering from dementia, over a period from 1945 to 2015. The researchers extracted information relating to risk factors neurodegenerative diseases. “Dementia usually develops due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including hypertension, obesity, diabeteslevel of education and smoking”list the experts.
The authors of the study specify that it is essential to identify and combat modifiable risk factors, because “their elimination could theoretically prevent around 40% of dementia cases, according to research by UCL academics.”
Researchers noticed that over time, the prevalence of dementia risk factors changed. Indeed, they found that the number of cases of dementia linked to education level or smoking was decreasing. On the other hand, they observed that the number of cases of dementia linked to other factors such as obesity and diabetes was increasing. The researchers point out that “in most of the studies reviewed, the most important risk factor for dementia remains hypertension”.
High blood pressure may be one of the most important risk factors for dementia, researchers say
In a press release, Dr Naaheed Mukadam from UCL Psychiatry summarizes: “Cardiovascular risk factors may have contributed more to dementia risk over time, so they merit more targeted action for future dementia prevention efforts.” But how can we explain this increase in cases of dementia linked to cardiovascular health? Dr Naaheed Mukadam explains that in high-income countries, the level of education has increased while smoking has decreased, which reduces the number of cases of dementia due to these two factors. On the other hand, the researchers also emphasize that support for the treatment of hypertension is increasing.
“These trends suggest that population-level interventions could have a significant impact on the onset of dementia risk factors, and governments should consider implementing programs such as global education and restrictions on smoking”, Concludes Dr Naaheed Mukadam.
Sources :
- Changes in prevalence and incidence of dementia and risk factors for dementia: an analysis from cohort studies – The Lancet Public Health (juillet 2024)
- Cardiovascular health could be biggest risk factor for future dementia rates – communiqué (26/06/2024).
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Dementia
