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Failing eyesight and high cholesterol newly identified as dementia risks by seismic report

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Published: 
1 August 2024

Latest evidence published in the Lancet adds two new risk factors to risk list that could delay or avoid nearly half of all dementia cases if treated and it is never too late to act on them.

Professor Gill Livingston from UCL and consultant psychiatrist at the North London Mental Health Partnership (NLMHP), presented the findings from the third Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care, at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC 2024) in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The major report was authored by 27 world-leading dementia experts and pushes for improvements at government policy level and for individuals to take action to improve lifestyles and promote better management of dementia.

The latest report details two newly identified risk factors, failing eyesight and high cholesterol, to the list of 12 previously evidenced in the Lancet Commission in 2020. Approximately 7% of dementia cases attributable to high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol in midlife from around age 40 years, and 2% of cases attributable to untreated vision loss in later life. These now join the 2020 list which includes lower levels of education, hearing impairment, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, air pollution and social isolation.

Dementia is a growing problem for health and social care systems around the world with 153 million people predicted to be living with dementia by 2050, almost triple the current levels. The increase is being driven by a rapidly ageing global population and increased life expectancy in low-income countries.

The global health costs linked to dementia currently exceed $1tn (£780bn) annually. Economic impact modelling in a complimentary Lancet Healthy Longevity report suggested that using population-level interventions of known effectiveness to tackle dementia risk factors could achieve cost savings of up to £4 billion in England alone.

Lead author for the Lancet Commission, Professor Gill Livingston said:

“Our new report reveals that there is much more that can and should be done to reduce the risk of dementia. It’s never too early or too late to take action, with opportunities to make an impact at any stage of life.

“We now have stronger evidence that longer exposure to risk has a greater effect and that risks act more strongly in people who are vulnerable. That’s why it is vital that we redouble preventive efforts towards those who need them most, including those in low- and middle-income countries and socio-economically disadvantaged groups. Governments must reduce risk inequalities by making healthy lifestyles as achievable as possible for everyone.”

“Healthy lifestyles that involve regular exercise, not smoking, cognitive activity in midlife (including outside formal education) and avoiding excess alcohol can not only lower dementia risk but may also push back dementia onset. So, if people do develop dementia, they are likely to live less years with it. This has huge quality of life implications for individuals as well as cost-saving benefits for societies.”

Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society said:

“Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and a global crisis affecting more than 55 million people, but it’s never too early or too late to reduce your dementia risk.”

The Lancet Commission is available to read for free with registration: Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission.

Further reading on this landmark report is also available from the following:

UCL News: Nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by tackling 14 risk factors

Alzheimer’s Research UK: Addressing 14 health and lifestyle factors could prevent nearly half of global dementia cases

Alzheimer’s Society: Two new dementia risk factors identified in Lancet Commission study

The Guardian (Andrew Gregory): Almost half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed, study finds

BBC News (Philippa Roxby & Elena Bailey): Two new dementia risks identified by major report

 

 

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