In America, dementia rates are on the decline, as many seniors are developing dementia later in life and less often. The findings come from a decades-long study where over 5,000 people were followed for nearly 40 years. The researchers saw on average a reduction in the risk of dementia by 20 percent.
Furthermore, the average age of dementia diagnosis also rose from the age of 80 in the 1970s to 85 more recently.
Advertisement
Although the findings suggest a delay in dementia, America is still in a crisis for this disorder, as the baby boomers are now aging altogether, creating an influx in dementia rates.
Study author Dr. Sudha Seshadri said, “People are going to live to be older and be at greater risk of developing dementia. It’s not that the burden of disease is going to decrease, but it may not be exploding quite as rapidly as we feared.”
The study did offer some insight as to which factors contribute to the declining rates of dementia. Increased heart health awareness, obtaining at least a high school diploma or higher education, and improvements in heart health have all been linked to lower dementia cases.
Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association, said, “This does add evidence that controlling cardiovascular risk factors and increasing levels of education are good for your risk of developing dementia over time. It does not say that we don’t have to worry about dementia anymore, or that we’re not going to see an explosion of dementia cases as the baby boomers age.”
The researchers do note that the results may not be nationwide as they only looked at participants followed in Framingham, Massachusetts. Therefore, additional research is required to include other parts of America to determine if the trend is found elsewhere.
Sources:
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_157175.html
Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.
