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High blood sugar, hearing loss and low education are the most prevalent risk factors for dementia in the United States, according to a new report from the Dementia Risk Reduction Project — a multiyear collaboration between AARP, the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative (AD Data Initiative), and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
The report is the first to rank 12 modifiable risk factors for dementia in the US population and by state and serves as a guide to help protect brain health and reduce the impact of dementia. The findings also support AARP’s Six Pillars of Brain Health, part of its Staying Sharp aging program.
In total, the report listed 12 risk factors, with high blood sugar, hearing loss and lower level of education accounting for the largest share of preventable dementia cases. Air pollution, depression, physical inactivity, traumatic brain injury, smoking, high blood pressure and social isolation were also listed as major contributors. Meanwhile, alcohol use and high body mass index did not show any substantial associations with increased dementia risk.
Authors note that improving blood sugar control in people with prediabetes and diabetes, expanding access to hearing care, and increasing educational opportunities could significantly reduce dementia nationwide.
“This report suggests that dementia is not an unavoidable consequence of aging, but a condition influenced by numerous modifiable factors. By addressing these risks, we have a significant chance to delay or prevent dementia for millions of Americans,” said Jaimie Steinmetz, MD, IHME’s lead research scientist overseeing work on sensory and neurological disorders.
