CLAHRC research into preventive potential of modifiable risk factors for dementia
This research estimated the population-attributable risk of Alheimer’s worldwide for seven potentially modifiable risk factors that have consistent evidence of an association with the disease (diabetes, midlife hypertension, midlife obesity, physical inactivity, depression, smoking and low educational attainment).
After accounting for non-independence between risk factors, around a third of Alzheimer’s diseases cases worldwide might be attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors. Alzheimer’s disease incidence might be reduced through improved access to education and use of effective methods targeted at reducing the prevalence of vascular risk factors (eg, physical inactivity, smoking, midlife hypertension, midlife obesity, and diabetes) and depression.
This research has been published as:
Norton, Sam, et al. “Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer’s disease: an analysis of population-based data.” The Lancet Neurology 13.8 (2014): 788-794.
