There are two new risk factors that can be modified in terms of preventing dementia.1
They are LDL cholesterol (7% contribution) and visual loss in later life (2%). The data for LDL comes from cohort studies where the LDL is modified in the middle years. The others are:
- Less education 5%
- Hearing loss 7%
- Depression 3%
- Traumatic brain injury 3%
- Physical inactivity 2%
- Diabetes 2%
- Smoking 2%
- Hypertension 2%
- Obesity 1%
- Excessive alcohol 1%
- Social isolation 5%
- Air pollution 3%
Reference
As published in NZ Doctor and Research Review
