These Risk Factors At Age 60 May Be The Strongest Predictors Of Dementia

LOADING ERROR LOADING A new study found that several risk factors at age 60 may be strong predictors of dementia and cognitive impairment later in life. For instance, the report found that people born in the South “face statistically significantly higher chances of developing dementia, even when controlling for many other factors.” Peter Hudomiet, an economist at RAND and one of the lead researchers on the study, told ABC News earlier this month that some of the findings were “surprising.” “Our research confirmed that factors like low cognitive test scores and poor general health in one’s 60s are strong predictors of dementia later in life,” he said, adding, “We also uncovered some surprising insights, such as the significant protective effect of education, particularly having a high school diploma, and the increased risk associated with living in the South.” The report also found that people who did not have private health insurance at age 60 had an elevated chance of developing a cognitive impairment or dementia years later. Other risk factors, such as parental health, family size and marital history, however, were shown to be weak predictors for dementia or cognitive impairment, the study found. Ryan Glatt, a brain health coach at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California, told Women’s Health earlier this month that he thinks the study’s findings nonetheless “emphasize the importance of lifestyle interventions, such as regular physical exercise, maintaining social and cognitive engagement, and managing chronic health conditions like diabetes.” The RAND study’s authors said that their findings may help indicate that certain lifestyle interventions can be beneficial for reducing one’s risk of dementia or cognitive impairment.